BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, ÀWKA
In furtherance of her commitment to uplifting the
status of the physically challenged persons and
giving them a sense of belonging in the society, the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano
today in Awka, Anambra State distributed more Prosthetic limbs to 200 physically-challenged persons who went home happy, saying it was a way to do good to the needful and add value to lives of God’s creations.
status of the physically challenged persons and
giving them a sense of belonging in the society, the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano
today in Awka, Anambra State distributed more Prosthetic limbs to 200 physically-challenged persons who went home happy, saying it was a way to do good to the needful and add value to lives of God’s creations.
The fitting of limbs held at the Women Development Centre Awka was part of the second phase programme organized by the Caring Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), the NGO promoted by the wife of the Governor of Anambra State. During the First Phase held in December 2014, about 300 physically challenged persons were provided with the artificial limbs free of charge thus bringing the total to 500 beneficiaries.
In her address during the Second Phase of the exercise, Chief Mrs. Obiano who is Focal Person and
promoter of CAFÉ expressed delight with gesture aimed at ameliorating their present condition.
promoter of CAFÉ expressed delight with gesture aimed at ameliorating their present condition.
The wife of the governor said this second phase empowerment would ensure Improved mobility aid in the use of their arms and legs. The immediate outcome of this gesture is that most of them are ultimately going to leverage the improved mobility aid to work better to earn a living.
Thus with improved mobility, their living condition will improve and hopefully there will be better income from employment, business or other engagements,' she said.
Recalling that she was away on official assignment during the First Phase, when her husband, Governor Willie Obiano represented her and flagged off the gesture, said the items would enhance the dignity of the beneficiaries.
According to her, since the commencement of her pet project, CAFÉ, about 500 persons with physical disabilities have been empowered by CAFÉ with prosthetic limbs assuring 'We are committed to our promise to make life less burdensome for the physically challenged in Anambra State,' Mrs Obiano noted.
Chief (Mrs.) Obiano condemned accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor, said few wealthy people exist but still lord it over majority of poor people, pointed out that her pet project not only trains nut empowers individuals in the State in order
to be wealth creators and brad winners in their various families and communities.
to be wealth creators and brad winners in their various families and communities.
She stated that the numerous charity and empowerment programmes undertaken by CAFÉ,
'Underscores my passion, commitment and bold effort to give meaning to the lives of the
dispossessed and disadvantaged.
'Today, we are here
to share in the joy of 200 of our brothers and sisters
who have already been measured and will now be
fitted with prosthetic limbs.”
The CAFÉ focal person assured further that more
persons still waiting to benefit should be hopeful as
she as leaving no stone unturned in her bid to provide
them with more artificial limbs.
Noting that CAFÉ, as a non-governmental,
nonpartisan organization with a vision to be the
beacon of sustainable empowerment for women and
the less privileged, has the mandate 'to care for the
less privileged and reduce women-child vulnerability
while maintaining the dignity of persons with
disabilities in Anambra state and uplifts the less
privileged including physically challenged.
Through CAFÉ, Chief Mrs. Obiano said, she has
embarked on several empowerment initiatives and
skills acquisition training aimed at lifting the
beneficiaries out of poverty, disclosing that most of
what the pet project does is largely through the
support of the well-to-do and people of goodwill
while imploring for assistance.
dispossessed and disadvantaged.
'Today, we are here
to share in the joy of 200 of our brothers and sisters
who have already been measured and will now be
fitted with prosthetic limbs.”
The CAFÉ focal person assured further that more
persons still waiting to benefit should be hopeful as
she as leaving no stone unturned in her bid to provide
them with more artificial limbs.
Noting that CAFÉ, as a non-governmental,
nonpartisan organization with a vision to be the
beacon of sustainable empowerment for women and
the less privileged, has the mandate 'to care for the
less privileged and reduce women-child vulnerability
while maintaining the dignity of persons with
disabilities in Anambra state and uplifts the less
privileged including physically challenged.
Through CAFÉ, Chief Mrs. Obiano said, she has
embarked on several empowerment initiatives and
skills acquisition training aimed at lifting the
beneficiaries out of poverty, disclosing that most of
what the pet project does is largely through the
support of the well-to-do and people of goodwill
while imploring for assistance.
She appreciated the efforts and contributions of
CAFÉs partners, the Tolaram Group who are the
manufacturers of the prosthetic Limb, and charged
the firm to 'Remain committed to producing more
quality prosthetic limbs to meet the needs of CAFÉ
and the beneficiaries.
Chief (Mrs) Obiano called on all persons with
deformities who graduated in the last six years to
submit their personal details to the Office of the Wife
of the Governor through their respective local
government chairmen for employment as according
to her, the State government would soon employ
1000 physically-challenged persons.
CAFÉs partners, the Tolaram Group who are the
manufacturers of the prosthetic Limb, and charged
the firm to 'Remain committed to producing more
quality prosthetic limbs to meet the needs of CAFÉ
and the beneficiaries.
Chief (Mrs) Obiano called on all persons with
deformities who graduated in the last six years to
submit their personal details to the Office of the Wife
of the Governor through their respective local
government chairmen for employment as according
to her, the State government would soon employ
1000 physically-challenged persons.
Earlier in his Remark, the Commissioner for Health,
Dr. Jo Akabuike tagged the day as special and a
celebration of the Obiano Family tradition, recalled
that the governor and the wife had been into charity
works before they came to power, stressing that
'What the governor and his wife are doing are innate
in their heart,'he said.
Dr. Jo Akabuike tagged the day as special and a
celebration of the Obiano Family tradition, recalled
that the governor and the wife had been into charity
works before they came to power, stressing that
'What the governor and his wife are doing are innate
in their heart,'he said.
Dr. Akabuike appreciated the State governor for
offsetting the N150 million medical bills of indigent
patients as well as provision of N10 million for heart
transplant of another patient.
Speaking to newsmen, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs and Social Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria
Chikwelu pointed out that the Obiano administration
was willing to make an unprecedented mark in the
life of every disabled person in the State for the good
posterity.
While praising the First Lady for making it possible
towards the realization of self-reliance for persons
with disabilities in the State, she said the State
government has set up three rehabilitation centres at
Oba, in Idemili South Local Government Area to
serve Anambra Central zone, Nawfija in Orumba
South LGA to serve Anambra South zone and Aguleri
in Anambra East LGA for Anambra North zone
Among the equipment distributed were computers,
laptops, mobility aids, wheel chairs, tricycles,
clutches, V. Machines, grinding machines, sewing
machines, hair dryers, shoe making tools, big and small generators and industry sewing machines.
offsetting the N150 million medical bills of indigent
patients as well as provision of N10 million for heart
transplant of another patient.
Speaking to newsmen, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs and Social Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria
Chikwelu pointed out that the Obiano administration
was willing to make an unprecedented mark in the
life of every disabled person in the State for the good
posterity.
While praising the First Lady for making it possible
towards the realization of self-reliance for persons
with disabilities in the State, she said the State
government has set up three rehabilitation centres at
Oba, in Idemili South Local Government Area to
serve Anambra Central zone, Nawfija in Orumba
South LGA to serve Anambra South zone and Aguleri
in Anambra East LGA for Anambra North zone
Among the equipment distributed were computers,
laptops, mobility aids, wheel chairs, tricycles,
clutches, V. Machines, grinding machines, sewing
machines, hair dryers, shoe making tools, big and small generators and industry sewing machines.