By Stephen Adeleye.
No fewer than 150 physically challenged citizens of Kogi would get free artificial legs, cosmetic hands and polio calipers to aid their movement and make them productive in the society.
Mrs Rashidat Bello, the wife of Kogi Governor, disclosed this on Wednesday at the inauguration program of a project tagged, “Power To The Special Peoples Project” at Glass House, Government House, Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was organised by the Rashidat Bello Foundation (RBF) through the Office of the Special Adviser on Health Matters in collaboration with the Ishk Toleram Foundation (ITF).
Mrs Bello, who doubles as Founder of RBF, said the project was dedicated to citizens with disabilities to give them free artificial limbs, polio calipers and cosmetic hands in order to aid their movement and improve their well being.
“Today offers us another opportunity to give back to the society and touch the lives of our people in a way that make them more productive and resourceful to their families and communities.
“It has been a wonderful experience to see people benefited from our programs for indigent patients, vulnerable groups, children, women and the aged,” she said.
She said that her foundation had over the years supported the State Government’s vision towards providing the dividends of good governance in the area of health, education, women and youth empowerment.
“We stand for an improved health for our people, better livelihood and improved the wellbeing of our citizens. We want to see the socioeconomic transformation of our mothers, youths and the state as a whole,” she said.
Mrs Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade, opined that the program would benefit the people and create more opportunities for the socioeconomic transformation our citizens and the state.
Dr Ahmed Attah, the Special Adviser on Health Matters to the governor, said that the ITF would commence the assessment and measurement of the limbs affected today and provide the limbs to the beneficiaries within the next two weeks.
He said that the project would be in phases as sensitisation was still ongoing to intimate the affected citizens of the project, saying the target for the first phase would be for 150 physically challenged citizens.
Attah said that the RBF had contributed immensely to the successes recorded in health and in other sectors, such as provision of free medical services to over 50, 000 indigent patients.
He said RBF also sponsored special surgeries for cancer patients, conjoined twins and other congenital anomalies, free cataract operations, and establishment of Drug Rehabilitation Centre, among others.
He commended the governor for assenting the State Health Insurance Scheme Bill and State Primary Health Care Development Agency Amendment Bill.
Mr Ibrahim Arome, the State Chairman of Persons Leaving With Disability (PLWD), commended the wife of the governor and other stakeholders for the gesture to alleviate their suffering.
He eulogised the governor for recently assenting PLWD Bill, while pledging their total support for Bello’s reelection for second term, saying, ”we have endorsed Gov. Yahaya Bello for second term in office.”
