Lydia Zaka was not born with blindness; she got blind as a result of measles when she was a baby.
She grew up without her sight. She attended Vocational Training School for the Blind Zawan where learned Vocational Skills like Square carpet, soap making and bead making.
After her completed my Training, she got employment with Barkin -ladi local government of Plateau state. She is a widow with three children; she lost her husband who was also a person with visual impairment.
In this interview with our correspondents, Joshua Yenle and Bulus Bala Izang, she spoke about how her husband died and her survival thereafter.
TQM: When did your husband died?
My husband was killed in our house in the year 2015, in an attack on our village, Gana rop. He was a retired civil servant.
TQM: Were you and the Children at home with him during the attack?
We were all at the village together, but shortly, before the attack, l went to visit some relations at another village, taking with me our youngest child, while I left him with the remaining two children.
The attackers meet him in our house, killed him, cut his body and set his remains on fire. Despite the fact that he was blind, he couldn’t hurt anyone, yet he was killed.
But our two children miraculously escaped. After the incident, I took my children and moved to Barkin-ladi town, and I have been staying in a rented house.
TQM: What about feeding and the children’s school fees?
I have been trying to get food to feed the family.
The Children are in School, one is still in primary school, while the other two are in JSS one.
The feeding and the School fees are all on my shoulder.
TQM: What about your late husband relations, don’t they help you in any of these?
His close relations died even before he was killed, he was alone.
TQM: What other activities are you doing to have additional income?
I am not doing anything for now. I want to do something, but the whole of my salary is being consumed by food, rent and payment of School fee.
The truth is that it is difficult for me to pay my children school fees. So, nothing is left to save for business.
TQM: Have you received any support from the government or other associations?
I have occasionally received foodstuff assistance from the Church. No support from the government so far.
TQM: What kind of assistance would you want?
I would like to be assisted with the payment of my Children’s school fees and to have some money to start small business.
TQM: Thank you, we pray support come your way.
