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Beneficiaries of the wheelchairs donation by Rotary Club International, Bauchi Central chapter
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi Central chapter of the Rotary Club International has donated 10 wheelchairs to polio survivors in Bauchi state in an effort to aid their mobility processes.
Bauchi Central Chapter President of Rotary Club International, Rotarian Chukwunonso Nwobi, who handed over the wheelchairs to the beneficiaries on Friday at a mini ceremony held at Dadin Kowa restaurant said that the gesture was one of the focus areas of the club being one of the leading organizations in the eradication of polio in the world.
He further said that the wheelchairs were not given to them to encourage street begging, rather they were to aid their movement while engaging in productive activities.
According to him, “These are people affected by polio and we don’t want them to be a burden to the society as a result of not being able to move about” .
The Chapter President added that, “As a result, we try to aid them in their movements by providing these hand powered tricycles and this would help them to go to school, places of work or worship and to go and learn a trade so that they won’t be a burden to themselves or to the society” .
He urge saying, “I will like to urge the beneficiaries not to give up on life and aspire for whatever they would like to be. Two among them are graduates and one of them have served with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)” .
“So, whatever your dreams are inspite of disability, you can still achieve those dreams because there is ability in disability,” he said.
The Chapter President then warned the beneficiaries against using the wheelchairs for street begging, adding that the Club has the right to confiscate the wheelchair from any of them found guilty of misuse.
In his address, Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed appreciated the ‘kind gesture’ by Rotary Club describing it as a Humanitarian move that will make the beneficiaries feel some sense of belonging.
Represented by Deputy Director, Disease Control, BSPHCDA, Mr Yusuf Pate, Rilwanu Mohammed said that the Agency’ and Rotary Club have been working together for many years especially, in the fight against polio in the state.
He urged the club to continue to provide maximum support to the state government to fight against polio not only in Nigeria but Bauchi state in particular.
In their separate vote of thanks, two beneficiaries, Malam Hassan Mohammed and Saudat Galadima Rotary club and BSPHCDA for identifying them to benefit from the gesture.
They promised to use the equipment judiciously and prayed for more people to provide such assistance to their counterparts or other people of such condition.
