by Chris Agbo
Empower to Thrive Development Initiative on Saturday 13th June, 2020 distributed bags of food items to 50 persons with disabilities in FCT.
Dr. Ima Chima, speaking on behalf of the group, said that it is essentially crucial at this time for us to look around our environment and provide succor for those who needed it most especially as the confirmed cases of COVID-19 according to NCDC has risen to over 14 thousand.
While advising the persons with disabilities present on the preventive measures of COVID-19, she said that project is borne out of her desire to help those who cannot help themselves.
She informed that she have chosen persons with disabilities for this project because they are highly undervalued in our society. In the course of her job as a medical doctor, She have seen many persons with disabilities even those with good education reduced to begging because of lack of opportunities, and it also extended to the exclusion of persons with disabilities in so many areas including food distribution even in this COVID-19 pandemic. Many persons with disabilities find it extremely difficult to feed because they have lost their means of livelihood due to the lockdown.
It is in view of this that the group engaged dedicated friends and partners who help them to fundraise to start providing food items for many persons with disabilities to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. The group also assured the persons with disabilities present that they are just the starting; saying that the exercise will be ongoing.
“Through much effort and collaboration with men and women of God, I am excited to say that we have begun a process of establishing this foundation that is dedicated for uplifting people who have been forgotten and ignored in the society,” She said.
She appreciated all those that contributed in one way or the other to ensure that the food distribution project become a reality and a success.
The Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) FCT Chapter, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Ujah appreciated the group for the kind gesture especially reaching out the persons with disabilities. He said that the gesture means a lot for persons with disabilities because some of them, this may be the only food in the house in the next week. He urged that group to join hands with persons with disabilities in improving their lives especially towards the implementation of Disability Act and other policies that gears towards improvement of the wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Empower to Thrive Development Initiative is a non-government organization that seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable people including people with disabilities and build a better society. Their goal is to carry out charitable works and human empowerment initiative that will assist individuals and community in fulfilling their potentials and improving their overall well-being.
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
