Over 800 police officers are living with disabilities, chronic diseases – NPSC

Over 800 police officers in the country, are living with different forms of disability and illnesses National police service commission(NPSC) has revealed.

NPSC vice-chair Dr Alice Otwala has said that out of the ongoing medical assessment exercise, 800 police officers countrywide had willingly taken part.

"About 800 police officers countrywide are living with different forms of illness or disability and are unable to work effectively in their workstations," she said.

Otwala noted that a majority of the officers were ailing as a result of, chronic diseases, accidents and attacks by criminals during operations.

She further noted that challenges to cope and adapt to the new working environments across the country had led to alarming statistics.

She was speaking in Mombasa, during the launch of a special medical board, to assess the number of sick officers and those injured in the line of duty.

Where she further disclosed that NPSC had established six health facilities to enable NPSC to look into the health crisis amongst police officers.

"National police service has established six health facilities which will be able to look into and cater for the health needs of our officers," she said.

She further noted that lack of ways to motivate the officers while on duty had led to the low turnout being witnessed.

"I call upon police officers to come out in huge numbers, to make it easier to address mental and other challenges facing them since the government is now in process of undertaking counselling, offering medical services and compensating those who sustained injuries while on duty," she said.