Okola's story

Okola, now seven, survived a severe attack of malaria when he was five months old which claimed the life of his twin brother – probably as a result of inadequacy of access to health facilities and services.

As a young boy Okola used big gestures to express himself and often seemed withdrawn, preferring to keep to himself.

When the neighboring kids who were younger than Okola developed speech earlier than him, his parents started to realise that Okola has a hearing impairment.

Fortunately his older brother stepped in to play an important role acting as an interpreter between him and other people.

But on reaching school age, Okola's parents kept him at home whilst the rest of his siblings went to school - they thought he needed to go to 'special school' but the closest one was a long way from their home and his parents couldn't afford to send him there anyway.

“It was very difficult for us; we did not know how to help him, so we kept him at home” lamented his father.

It was not until after a few home visits from one of our community health worker that Okola’s parents decided to enroll him in one of the five schools that Leonard Cheshire Disability are working with in Oriang.

Although the first months in school were difficult, Okola is now actively involved in classroom activities and is particularly interested in clay modelling and playing football – which has in turn helped him improve his social skills. He is also learning basic sign language with his classmates.
“Okola likes being involved in the classroom activities a lot, he is very active”, says his teacher.

His parents have joined one of the parents support group we have organised, where they have gained psychological support from other parents in similar situations and skills on involving Okola in day to day activities when at home. They are now very optimistic, the whole family is much stronger.