In their effort to support persons with disabilities in Ekiti state in this moment of pandemic, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI) had commenced the distribution of food relief materials to persons with disabilities across three local governments in Ekiti state namely, Ado, Oye and Ikere.
The project tagged “Feed them to Survive” was aimed at supporting persons with disabilities and their household to cope with the realities of our society in this moment of pandemic. It is a well-known fact around the world that Corona Virus also known as COVID-19 is killing and infecting people including persons with disabilities in hundreds of thousands and millions respectively. However, its resultant effect on the economy across the world had made life more miserable for people with disabilities.
The Executive Director of the organization, Olajide Funso said DINABI had been in the forefront of advocacy services in the last few months since COVID-19 started, ranging from sensitization, training, media engagement, online and social media awareness creation and most importantly partnership with government to reach out to the most vulnerable group; the disability community. It was in the view of this that they decided to take it a step higher by distributing relief packages to their very own community with support from some patriotic individuals.
Some of the beneficiaries who could not hide their excitement thanked the organizers and their supporters for the initiative while also praying earnestly for them.
In separate words of prayers and appreciation, Mr. Oyinbo Orekunrin, an elderly man with albinism in Ado-Ekiti appreciated DINABI for their support. He said he has been hearing about DINABI but he finally met them when he needed them most.
Also, Miss Owoeye Damilola, a visually impaired young lady in Ikere-Ekiti expressed her delight over the support, stating that it came at the nick of time. She said the impact of the lockdown on her family has brought untold hardship, but quickly noting that DINABI and their donors brought succor to them at the right time.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Idowu Adebiyi, a woman with hearing impairment who spoke with sign language appreciated the good gesture of DINABI and prayed for their donors that they will never lack.
It would be recalled that DINABI had earlier called on governments at all levels and individuals in the society to rise and support persons with disabilities in the different communities. Mr Ibitoye Olugbenga, DINABI’s M&E Officer said persons with disabilities in our various communities should not be abandoned in this trying period. While appreciating government and some philanthropist for their support so far, he said they can still do more.
DINABI’S program assistant, Miss Hellen Oluwatoyin who monitored the distribution in Oye-Ekiti and Ilupeju-Ekiti called on well-meaning Nigerians to give support to DINABI to do more. She noted that she did not know the extent of the damage COVID-19 had done until she went out for the exercise. She urged as many that may want to support either with cash or with food materials to contact their organization.
Each of the packages distributed contains food materials such as rice, garri, indomie, semovita, salt and tissue papers.
