Group urges Nigerians to show love, support to PLWDs
By Oluwatope Lawanson
A Politically Motivated Group, Evolving Women in Politics (EWIP), has urged well-meaning Nigerians to show love to physically challenged children.
According to it, this is a mark and sign for love to humanity.
Dr Raliat Abdulsalam, the Vice President of the EWIP, made the remark during the group’s visit to the Home of People Living With Disabilities (PWLDs) at the Modupe Cole Children School/Home for Disabilities in Lagos on Saturday.
Abdulsalam described the visit to the children’s home as a memorable charity visitation.
The group’s vice president noted that the vision carrier of the institution deserved to be idolised just like the likes of Jesus, Prophet Muhammed and other deities being adorned with so much love, honour and respect because she practised humanity, which is love other than religion.
Abdulsalam added that a visit to the school would humble anyone with pride and ego.
She said: “It was an emotional day for some of us who couldn’t stand the site of the children with disabilities. Hence, a visit to the school will humble anyone with pride and ego.”
She commended the home for the care given to children, saying there was need to take care of children with special needs.
She called on governments to create enabling environment targeted at addressing specific and individual needs of children with such needs.
“A number of parents, often times, neglect and hide their children with special needs, which is sending a wrong signal and low esteem to such child or children.”
Speaking, the school’s Coordinator, Mr Adebayo Kazeem, said that they had over 450 children living with various forms of disabilities in the school.
He added that some of the children could not assimilate properly due to brain malfunction and had to be trained in skills acquisition.
Kazeem noted that the school was now being managed by Lagos State Government after the demise of the visioner.
He, therefore, stressed that there was need for the government to do more while urging other well-meaning Nigerians to show love and support to PLWDs.
He said: “If not for the support from organisations like EWIP, we would have been overwhelmed.”
Kazeem urged parents with children with disabilities to show them love, care and affection as it was not their fault that they found themselves in such position.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the visitation was the donation of gift items including provisions, toiletries, some used clothes and cash to support the workers in appreciation of their efforts in taking care of the children living with disabilities.
Other members of the group who were present during the visit included Mrs Paris Sanusi, the group’s Coordinator; Mrs Ronke Erinle, Treasure;, Mrs Taiye Akinpelu, the Publicity Secretary and few members of EWIP. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
