JONAPWD Lauds Akwa Ibom Govt On Care For People Living With Disabilities

By Nnene Bassey

Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has commended the Akwa Ibom Government for its support and commitment to ensuring the welfare of People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.

JONAPWD is an umbrella organization of persons with disability established in Nigeria to promote the rights and development of Nigerians with disabilities. The organization was established in 1992, to represent the interests of the teeming population of persons with disabilities at the local and international level.

Chairman of Akwa Ibom State chapter of JONAPWD, Comrade Anietie Jackson gave the commendation at an event organized to mark the 2022 International Day for Persons With Disabilities (IDPD), which was held in Uyo.

The theme for annual event, “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development; the Role of Innovation in Fueling Accessible and Equitable World”, underscored the role of innovation in fueling an accessible, affordable, available, acceptable and equitable world thus ensuring political, social, economic, and cultural inclusivity at the state, national and international levels.

Comrade Jackson applauded the administration of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for being passionate about the PWDs in the state and for providing adequate resources to cater for their needs.

He also thanked God for making the day a reality, adding that the government through its support is celebrating abilities in disabilities with the spirit of leaving no one behind. PWDs across the 31 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the state turned up in their number for the event.

He further expressed his gratitude to the state Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, who according to him, has always encouraged them to be internet active to access the globe for the greater good of PWDs through innovation.

The chairman also used the opportunity to call on the physically challenged to explore the internet space and show the world their creativity.

Items donated by the state government to the PWDs at the event include special android phones with jaws/braille, sewing machines, hair dressing equipment, generators, complete musical instruments, wheel chairs, elbow/armpit clutches, computers, prosthesis, hats and sunscreen for Persons with Albinism, financial empowerment amongst others.

In their remarks, the five cluster heads; Ubong Ben for the blind, Mrs Nnene Bassey, for the Al bin-is, Timothy Itam for the Leprosy and Aniefiok Etuk for the physically challenged, hailed the governor and his admirable wife for the kind gesture.

They said it has never happened like this in past, noting that the celebration of 2022 IDPD came with surprises of better packages that elated all the attendees.

The cluster heads also prayed for God’s continuous protection, support for the governor, his family, all his endeavors, all PWDs, the Akwaibomites and Nigeria.

While addressing the participants, Dr. Adiakpan said the government’s gestures are clearly seen in the consistent provision of mobility devices, rehabilitation, financial empowerment, educational materials and scholarship for students with disabilities.

She noted that the PWDs are able in different ways/capacities and that is what makes them strong, unique and special thus not to be seen as a curse from nature rather to complete the creation.

“The only disabled person is the one in the grave since the present PWDs are alive they should rise to the faith of greatness”, she said.

The commissioner further stated that the day was set aside by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to promote and understand disabilities matters via advocacy, sensitization and empowerment of PWDs thus mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of PWDs to contribute meaningfully towards the progress and development of the society.

She noted that Assistive Technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics devices, Braille, canes, spectacles, text-to-speech software, among others.

Dr. Adiakpan also applauded the governor and his dear wife, Dr. Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel for uncommon demonstration of love to PWDs.

She therefore urged them to support the governor’s completion agenda and his succession plan, as inclusion and gender equality is clearly and basically seen.

She equally charged PWDs to make optimum use of the enabling environment and inherent resources created by governments to improve themselves and the society at large.

The commission further harped on the need to take advantage of technological advancements in promoting the dignity, rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities