To reduce the burden of members of People Living with Disabilities who may not have the resources to acquire some of their living aids that would make life a little bit easier for them, the Niger Delta Development Commission over the weekend distributed various forms of aid items to them.

Speaking while handing over the items that include mobility white canes, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, crutches, and hearing aids among others at the end of a one-day leadership and mental health training workshop for members of the PLWD in the state, held in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, the Abia State NDDC Director, Mr Azubuike Nwaubani lamented the level of discrimination suffered by PLWDs, stating that NDDC as an interventionist agency decided to donate to reduce the burden on members of the group who may not have the resources to acquire some of the aids that will make life a little bit easier for them, as such aids may be quite expensive for them to afford.

Represented by the Head of Education, Health and Social Services, John Okechukwu Ahamefuna, Nwaubani said, “It is a special day for the agency as we remember People Living with Disabilities. It is a day that we are donating aids to them, to make life easier for them.

“The NDDC Board led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku is a board of inclusiveness, as we ensure that we touch the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta region. This is part of his dreams in ensuring that the Sustainable Development Goals in the NDDC and the Niger Delta as a whole are achieved.”

Nwaubani disclosed that the agency acquired the items after conducting a NEEDS assessment on them, noting that the items would help to serve the beneficiaries and warned them against misusing or selling the items, an act that would defeat the purpose for which the items were procured by NDDC.

He added, “We are trying to give them that sense of belonging they deserve because they are also Nigerians. We have been organizing programmes for the group to fit into society appropriately. They should feel included. They should not relent in their efforts to chase their dreams.

“We (members of the public), should try to carry them along in all our activities and in everything that we do. Disability is not a death sentence; anyone could see him or herself in such a condition. Some became disabled through accident. They should not be weighed down, but to continue to aspire for greatness. They should chase after their dreams.”

Expressing their appreciation, a representative of the over 150 beneficiaries, Chukwuma Nwaha thanked the NDDC for the gesture, adding that the NDDC through what it has done, has distinguished itself from other government and private agencies.

He noted that the items given to them have gone a long way to give them not just hope, but a sense of belonging, adding that it will make life a little meaningful and easier for them, especially in the face of the dwindling economy and the country’s economic realities and urged the NDDC to keep up with its good works.

He pleaded with the commission to also find other ways of helping their members, many of who are struggling because of their disability to make ends meet and assured that they would make judicious use of the items donated to them, adding that the gesture showed the Federal Government’s concern about their plight.

Earlier in their lectures, Dr. Smile George and Dr. Zosa Dienye, asked members of the group to rise above their present condition and explore other positive means of developing and harnessing their innate skills to positively affect society, adding that their physical conditions cannot hinder them from attaining any height that they aspire to get to in life.

The lecturers urged the PLWDs to be visionary, and goal-oriented, develop emotional intelligence and learn to make decisions and communicate their ideas as leaders or potential leaders.

They lamented the dangers of discrimination against PLWDs by members of society and advised them to seek professional medical advice whenever the need arises.


https://punchng.com/nddc-empowers-abia-plwds/