For the second time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Project Enable Africa, a Non-Governmental organisation, popularly known for promoting digital and social inclusions of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on Thursday gave out food items to 100 beneficiaries within the Surulere and Yaba axis in Lagos to cushion the economic hardship the pandemic have subjected them to.
The food drive, done in collaboration with Ishk Tolaram Foundation, is the first batch in the second phase of the food drive catered for persons with disabilities in different clusters including the deaf, visually impaired, the physically challenged, those with sickle cell amongst other disability clusters.
Founder of the Initiative, Olusola Owonikoko in a statement, said the first phase of the food drive which held in April was very successful, but noted that the major challenge was that it triggered more request than it could cater for.
“Thankfully, with this strategic collaboration with the Ishk Tolaram Foundation, we are confident that we will be able to reach out to an additional 400 people across different communities in Lagos and we have started with those in Surulere and its environs today.”
“Most times when palliatives are been shared, the chances that Persons With Disabilities will be reached is always slim and when provisions are made for them, too many times, those without disabilities over-power the PWDs, making them disenfranchised.”
“With the collaboration with Ishk Tolaram, we are hopeful that more private sector organisations will begin to look into ways to partner with developmental outfits to bring about better outcomes for Persons with Disabilities even after the COVID 19 pandemic.”
Owonikoko reiterated that “Persons with Disabilities are an integral part of our population and it is important that we are mindful of them in all developmental processes most especially during a pandemic like this”.
According to one of the caregivers who brought a visually impaired beneficiary, “Project Enable Africa has shown that they are concerned with the pains of those PWDs.
“They are either training them with good skills like how to use the computer, or providing support in one way or the other, I got feedback from many people who benefited from the last outreach they did in Bariga and Olodi Apapa, but I wasn’t lucky then, however, they assured that they will reach out soon, and I am happy that they have given us not just food today but even money, sanitizers and nose masks, I pray that the Almighty will continue to bless them and their sponsors including Ishk Tolaram that produces Indomie noodles,” the beneficiary said. (Inclusivenews)
