Sarah Emmanuel Pangang is a woman with blindness from Pankshin local government of Plateau State. She is the wife of Emmanuel Pangang, a blind man we shared his interview last week. She was not born blind, I acquired her primary education with her sight intact, she started having problem with her sight when she was in form three in the Secondary school. It all started for her inability to see what was at board and when she read her books, there would be tears all over her eyes. This prompted her parents to seek medical attention. It led to her withdrawal from school for some time but when she got better, she went back to school.
In her form four, going to form five, which was the final year in Secondary school, her eyes problem got worse, as a result, she stopped schooling. Not that she was completely blind but she could no longer see what was on the board and could not read her books any more.
Years later, her father suggested that she should be enrolled in Vocational Training School for the Blind, Zawan, which she started in the year 1991 and completed in the year 1992.
In 1994, she got married to one of her teachers at the Vocational training school for the Blind Zawan who is also a person with visual impairment.
Sometimes ago, she got pregnant but she gave birth a still baby, since then she has not conceived up till today.
Our correspondent, Bulus Baba Izang was in her house and they discussed how she carrying out her daily activities knowing fully well that her husband is also a blind person and they did not have any child.
TQM. Are you engaged in any commercial activity?
I was doing something, when I finished from The Vocational training school for the Blind Zawan, I applied for employment both in the state and local governments, without success, while I was waiting for the employment, that never came, l was having a table in the front of my house where I was selling provision items, but due to financial difficulty, I could not continue with that business.
TQM. If you would have financial support, would you go back to that business or you would do something else?
l would like to continue with my business, if I have money, I may even add poultry farm to it.
TQM. Both you and your husband are persons with visual impairment, how have life been with you?
Life have not been easy, especially, now that my husband is retired, his pension is the only source of income now. We thank God for His provision.
TQM. Do you have someone, who is helping you with domestic work?
We once have children who were staying with us, but they are now married. For now, we don’t. I do all the house work that needs to be done, I do the cooking, washing, and other things.
TQM. I see you wearing COCIN Church women fellowship uniform, Is there a story behind it?
I am a member of the COCIN women fellowship group. In fact, I used to be a very active member, I even was one-time treasurer of the fellowship in a local Church in Zawan, in Jos South local government of Plateau state. Before we moved here to Pankshin at the retirement of my husband.
TQM. A person with visual impairment, A Treasurer of women fellowship? How did you do it?
Yes, (smile) I was, and I did it successful with the help of God.
TQM. With this, you are telling us that in all aspect of life, a person with Disability can have any role and play it successful!
Yes, we persons with disabilities can do any work by the grace of God.
ADVERTISEMENT
TQM. You said, you used to be an active member, Are you not an active member of the women fellowship now?
Here in Pankshin, the Church is on the other side of the high way road, with busy and high speed moving vehicles. We need assistance to cross the road. And the children that assist us are at School at the time the fellowship is going on. This really affected my participation in the women fellowship.
TQM. What advice would you have for girls and young women with Disabilities regarding married life?
Girls should learn to keep and be known with one lover when they are ready, that is how it should be, but today, it’s common to see a girl with about ten lovers, if she is not serious in a relationship, who will take her serious?
And to young married women, the watch words are, be patient, faithful and submissive to your husbands, while putting God first in all that you do.
TQM. Thank You.
You are welcome
