Inviolata Nyaleso is a 58-year-old teacher and caregiver who works at St. Oda School for the Blind in Siaya, Kenya. She has been teaching pre-primary learners with special needs and chronic illnesses for over 30 years, and she is passionate about ensuring that they receive quality education and health care.

Inviolata started her career as a nurse aide at Jamaa Home and Maternity Hospital in Nairobi, where she worked for two years. She then transferred to Divine Mercy Health Center in Siaya, still as a nurse aide. In 1989, she joined St. Oda School for the Blind as a pre-primary teacher and, at the same time, as a nurse aide. She says:

“I always wanted to be a nurse, but I could not afford to complete my training at the Kenya Medical Training College. I dropped out after the first year due to a lack of school fees. I then decided to train as a community health volunteer and a teacher of early childhood development education. I love teaching and caring for children, especially those with special needs and chronic illnesses,” she says.

Inviolata teaches subjects such as mathematics, language, environmental studies, and religious education. She also helps the learners with their daily activities, such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and toileting.

“Special needs learners always have special gifts, and they are eager to learn, though at early stages, one needs to be tolerant and patient with them as some come to school to escape the stigma they are experiencing at home and the community around their home. It is now my responsibility as a teacher to create an environment where they feel safe,” she adds.

Inviolata also serves as a nurse aide, which means that she has to monitor the health of the learners and administer medications when needed. She supports learners with chronic illnesses such as sickle cell anaemia, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Her first interaction with such students involves guiding and counselling them to know and accept the diseases they suffer from. She also trains them on how to take drugs on their own, even when at home and the right dosage.

Understandably, these learners need close monitoring, especially those with sickle cell and epilepsy. “This always forces me to sleep while alert as I can be called anytime to attend to a learner who is having a crisis. I also must keep records of their health status and report any changes to the school administration and the parents,” she shares.

She liaises with parents to ensure that day scholars carry enough drugs to last them through the day and that they adhere to clinic schedules. Additionally, she encourages parents to form support groups according to their children’s specific illness.

Inviolata recalls one experience that exemplifies her dedication to ensuring that learners with chronic illnesses receive the care they need, even during nighttime.

“There was a time when one of our learners who has sickle cell anaemia had a severe pain crisis in the middle of the night. He was screaming and crying, and I had to rush to his dormitory to give him painkillers and massage his joints. I also had to comfort him and assure him that he will be fine. I stayed with him until the morning when I took him to the hospital for further treatment,” she recounts.

Inviolata is not only a teacher and a nurse but also an advocate for inclusive education. She is looking forward to a society where learners with special needs will be able to study and compete with many of their fellows who do not have a disability in job hunting and contribute to the development of the society.

“To achieve this, she does a lot of community sensitization often on the rights of the special needs children to quality education through various community forums like churches and meetings organized by the community leaders.”

She says she has witnessed some progress and impact because of her advocacy efforts for persons with disabilities. For example, she has seen parents being comfortable leaving their children in school to learn as they know there is someone who will take care of their children’s health needs. She has also witnessed many learners with disabilities who were hidden being brought to school.

Inviolata Nyaleso is a remarkable teacher and nurse who has dedicated her life to supporting learners with special needs and chronic illnesses. She inspires many, and she hopes that her work will make a difference in the lives of her learners and their families.

“I love my job, and I am proud of what I do. I believe that every child has a right to education and health, regardless of their disability or illness. I hope that my learners will grow up to be independent and productive members of the society.”

Written by Lily Ronoh-Waweru, Multimedia Storyteller