Regina Joseph is a lady with visual impairment, a mother of a five years son, she come from a family of five children, three males and two females.
When she was thirteen years, she started having problem with her eyes when she was in Lagos, her father was in the Nigerian army and she was then in primary school, her parents took her to several health care units, but could not get the desired result.
In this interview with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, she revealed her struggles in life as a person with visual impairment.
TQM. What happened when the doctors could not help you regain your sight?
I stayed at home for sometime, after relocating from Lagos to my home town Langtang, in Langtang North in Plateau state. I later went to school for the blind children Gindiri, but could not completed it, because, my mother who was paying for my education got sick and died later. After some years, l went to Government Vocational Training Center for the Blind zawan, which l completed only with financial assistance from Langtang North Local Government.
TQM. What about your father, could he not afford to pay for your education?
He also later died, after the death of our mother.
TQM. Are you married?
No, l am not married, l got pregnant and gave birth to my son, in what to me was a romantic relationship with a man who is a person without disability, when l got pregnant, he ended the relationship.
TQM. But is he proving for the up keep of the child?
Each time l approach him for that, he always pick up fight with me.
TQM. Is the child schooling?
Yes, l put him in public school, because, l cannot afford to sent him to a private school.
TQM. What are you doing for a living?
I am not doing much for now, l used to sell mango fruits and even before that, l was frying Chin-chin and kunu for sale, but l now lack money to continue these business
TQM. Don’t you have assistance from your siblings and other relations?
Things are hard, a lot of us are just trying to survived.
TQM. Are you staying in a family house?
I rented room.
TQM. Who is paying for the rent?
I am.
TQM. In your business, have you gotten any assistance from some where, in form of loan or grants?
No, l have written so many applications for that , but l have not gotten anything.
TQM. Have you been discriminated in your family or society, because of your disability?
In my family, l have not been discriminated, but outside my immediate family, l have.
TQM. In what ways?
Because l cannot see, people come into my room and steal things like grains flour, maggi and even money. There was a time someone gave me #200.00 to prepare food for myself and my son, l kept the money under my pillow, someone came and took the #200.00 and in its place Kept #20.00 for me.
One of my relations, break my box inside my room, and steal my savings of #9,550.00. The savings was from the profit l was making in the selling of mango fruits over time, l met him coming out of my room, l hold him to give me back my money, but instead, he beat me to the point of leaving scars on me.
I reported him to the head of the family, but he told me to report the relation to our village head, l did, but the village head said he is tired of the man, so l reported to the police station, at the police station, he (the relation), said he have spent the money but he will pay back after a certain job, but when he got his wages from the job, he run away from Langtang North, l am now hearing, that he is in port Harcourt in Rivers State. That was how l lost my large
savings of a very long time.
TQM. Do you know of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, an Institution that help to protect the rights of persons with disabilities?
No.
TQM. What is you personal request to the government and other individuals in the community, in terms of coming to your assistance?
They should come to my assistance by giving my son scholarship and give me employment or some money to continue my business.
TQM. Thank you Regina for sharing your story with us.
Thank you.
