…..150 beneficiaries to get items
Persons With Disabilities under the aegis of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities in Gombe on Thursday received walking aids.
Our correspondent reports that the aids include prosthetic legs, wheel chairs, crutches donated by North-East Development Commission.
Lauding the Commission, Gombe State Chairman of JONAPWD Dr Ishiyaku Adamu, said the donation indicates that his members are part of the system, adding that it explains that NEDC is geared towards ensuring development for all.
According to him, “We intend to distribute this to our members across the 11 Local Government Areas. We have committee responsible for distribution. They will identify those in dare need of these materials those who can’t afford it.”
Explaining further Adamu added, “three people in each of the LGAs will get wheel chairs, five will get crutches, five to get legs (prosthetic), for below and above knee. In total 20 will benefit from each local government and Gombe LGA will get 30.”
While commenting on the disability bill which has scaled first, second readings, Adamu said, “We were full of joy because for the past 15 years we have been agitating for the passage and assent but we thank the governor for taking the bill personally to the house.We are hopeful that in the next six the committee will engage JONAPWD to get our feedback so that the bill will be passed. We have already received the commitment of the governor that the bill will be assented the moment he receives it.”
NEDC Gombe State acting Coordinator, Rufai Baba-Manu, said “The Commission has always worked round the clock to ensure that everyone is carried along. This is part of the Managing Director’s drive to ensure that people with special need are cared for.
He added, “This shows we are not discriminatory in any way and we want to show that we are part of them. We are focusing today on those with challenged with the leg 150 of them are benefitting.”
