Follow Us on Google
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A group, the Osogbo/Asheville/Xiangyang Sister Cities Association, has presented 71 wheelchairs to the two local government areas within the Osogbo metropolis and schools for People With Special Needs in Osun State.
The chairman of the group, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, said the wheelchairs presented to the recipients at the event held at Osogbo Grammar School Hall, were purchased with N5 million donated by the Asheville Sister Cities Incorporated, United States of America and a sum of N2 million raised by members of the group within Osun State.
Atanda, a Consultant Gynaecologist, who urged Nigerians to provide more assistance for people with special needs to make living more enjoyable for them, added that the wheelchair donation initiative was a reaffirmation of the global partnership that exists between Osogbo and Asheville, United States.
Giving a breakdown of how the wheelchairs were being distributed, Atanda further said, “Today, a wheelchair costs an average of N100, 000 and we are presenting 71 wheelchairs, costing over N7 million.
“We are giving 12 wheelchairs each to Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas. They both have 12 primary healthcare centers each, apart from focal healthcare facilities. We are giving 10 wheelchairs to the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, and 10 to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
“We are also giving 6 to Primary School for Persons with Special Needs, Osogbo. The secondary school also has 6. They were so excited about the donation because they have children who require wheelchairs and no funds to purchase any for them. The Association of Persons With Disabilities called JONAPID receives six wheelchairs. Their Osogbo and Olorunda branches received the wheelchairs.
“Ministry of Women Affairs also reached out to us that they have some children who require wheelchairs. We are also giving some to them. In all, we are giving out 71. The project is worth it and we appreciate the donors towards the successful implementation of the initiative.”
In his remarks, a retired Judge of Osun State High Court, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, said that the country has enough laws to protect people with one form of disability or the other.
He, however, queried the implementation of those laws by people in positions of authority, calling for action in that regard as a sign that the society also cares for the well-being of its disabled members.
