By Chris Agbo, Abuja
AbillityPlus Initiative, the producers of AbillityPlus TV on NTAK( a Disability focused TV program on NTA) distributed food items to deaf women in Abuja. The event which took place on Tuesday at the city centre also witnessed the training of deaf women on how to make hand sanitizer so that they can be producing hand sanitizers for their households and for the market especially now that the product has become so expensive and business is highly rewarding.
The Executive Director, Ability Plus Initiative, Janet Fasakin in a chat with The Qualitative Magazine at the event said that ever since the Coronavirus pandemic started, its impact on the persons with disabilities(PWDs) is devastating, PWDs are most hit by the pandemic going by the effect of over one-month lockdown on PWDs.
Speaking further, the former Most Beautiful Deaf Girls Deaf in Nigeria said that her team took up the responsibility of providing palliative for the deaf women because of so many distress calls and messages received from deaf colleagues especially deaf women.
So, against all odds, we decided to pull the bull by the horn and do something to assist our members. So, we put up appeals to our partners and sponsors. Graciously, they didn’t hesitate to support us wholeheartedly. God bless them, she said.
Among those who supported are Mindfarm initiative lead by Mr Dapo Olotu(a pillar of support to us always), Hon Chidi Olujie foundation,,Olufemi Ige aka Senator through him, we did electronic cash transfer to some deaf women, T.O.L.A Foundation, ,Mr Olusegun Aluko a US based Philanthropist supported us with some cash token. It was through the support all these generous individuals that we were able to buy bags of rice that we distributed to 30 Deaf women who are in need, she said.
Apart from bringing succor through the food items distribution, the group also empowered them to ensure sustenance at this trying time by teaching them how to make hand sanitizers so that they can venture into the business especially now that making and selling Hand Sanitizers is a lucrative business. The group don’t want to just give them what to use but also want them sustain themselves afterwards. According to Janet, we want to teach them how to fish so that they can be able to catch more fish. She appreciated the Youth Corper, Martha who find time in this lockdown to come and teach deaf women the processes of making hand sanitizer.
Other items distributed are Idomie noodles , Spaghetti and face mask.
Over 20 beneficiaries got cash transfers from the group.
In conclusion, Janet believed that her group’s effort can go a long way to support these deaf women and she was hopeful that her team have put smiles on the faces of these women who always face discrimination in the larger society.
We are willing to do more because there are still many deaf women who are in need of help but we helped these ones within our received donations, it is our desire to sponsor at least 5 of them to establish business of making and selling hand sanitizers to boost their financial situation. As we are grateful to our donors and sponsors, we are pleading for more support to reach out to more PWDs, the reward for a good job is opportunity for more jobs, she said.
At the event, the group put protocol in place to maintain social Distancing and all the participants were putting on face mask.
The group are looking forward for more support and donations, contact them at Abilityplusinitiative@gmail.com.
