The Rotary Club of Abuja Cosmopolitan district 9125, has distributed palliative items to some persons with disabilities at the Karamajiji Disabled Colony, along Airport Road, Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT.
The items were donated as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which had been ravaging the world since its outbreak.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the donated items include tubers of yam, loaves of bread, cartons of sachets Milo and milk as well as sugar.
While presenting the items, the out-going President of the club, Ms Chinwe Ogbuka, said that the Rotary Club, as a humanitarian organisation, offered the gesture to support the people who were one of the less privileged groups in the society.
Ogbuka said that the Karamajiji Disabled Colony was one of the adopted communities the club had been supporting in the past two years.
She noted that the initial plan for this year was for the rotarians to have breakfast with the people, but that the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the plan.
“We decided that come what may, we have to execute our project in compliance with the circumstances that we find ourselves, which required social distancing. That is why we have come to present what we have to them.
“Fortunately, it also coincided with this year Salah celebration. We say let us use this opportunity to put smiles on the people’s faces,” she said.
Ogbuka explained that the whole idea was to make the people feel at home and have sense of belonging as well as make them realise that some people cared about them.
Also speaking, the incoming President of the club, Mrs Violet Obioma urged persons with disabilities to keep their environment clean, especially during the COVID-19 period.
Obioma also advised them to always wash their hands with water and soap, visit the hospital whenever they or their children are feeling sick, as well report any suspected case of COVID-19 to the hospital or appropriate authorities.
She urged them to put their trust in God and serve Him with all their hearts saying, “God is the ultimate.”
The club Ground Patron, Mr Agbo Williams said the gesture was one of the ways the club assisted the less privileged, who struggled to meet their daily needs.
Williams noted that due to the social distancing order by the NCDC, occasioned by the COVID-19, the rotarians in their usual practice, would have loved to socialise and share love with the disabled persons, to make them feel loved.
“We are only privileged to have our two legs and two hands, not because we are too special before God but nature made us to be this way.
“That is one of the reasons I am happy to come and associate with them because we are all one,” he said.
Williams advised the disabled people not to be discouraged because of their conditions but always be grateful and prayerful to God Almighty.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Dantani, the Secretary to the Chief of People with Disability in FCT, commended the club for the gesture and for coming to share love with them.
Dantani said that the period of COVID-19 has been challenging for people with disabilities.
Dantani, who commended Nigerians and the government for coming to their aide, however, urged them to do more, in assisting persons with disabilities.
“We want people and government do more, in terms of providing food for us.
“If possible, let us be placed on a small monthly allowance by the government, so that our people can use that to take care of their families.
“We are all family people. We have about 429 families here in the community with disabilities, and we also have our brothers and sisters without disabilities numbering over 5,000 people,” he said.
