150 physically challenged attend durbar

Wenchi (B/A), Feb. 2, GNA - Wenchi and Tain district assemblies in collaboration with Wenchi Rural Youth Association, an NGO and the Department of Social Welfare have organised a durbar for a about 150 physically challenged persons in the two districts. This is to plan towards their rehabilitation, so as not to become liabilities in the communities. Mrs Ibrahim Bintu Farizana, Wenchi District Chief Executive called on parents with disabled children not to hide them at home but to enrol them in the special school.

She expressed grave concern about how physically challenged persons had been marginalized for a long time because of the misconception that, nothing good could come out of the disabled, emphasising that, disability was not inability.

The DCE appealed to members of the general public to desist from discriminating against the disabled, as such negative practice demoralized them and as such, tended to hide them from public view. Mrs Farizana called on the disabled in the district to register with the Department of Social Welfare, as well as the district assemblies, which could organise vocational training programmes for them to improve their living standards. The DCE appealed to NGOS, philanthropists, and well-to-do individuals, as well as religious bodies to support the disabled to make them feel happy in life. She urged the media to carry out massive educational campaigns about problems facing the disabled and to solicit assistance towards their rehabilitation.

Mr Clement Adjei-Benneh, Wenchi District Social Welfare Officer announced that a total number of 217 physically challenged persons in Wenchi and Tain districts, made up of 132 males and 85 females, had been registered with the Department of Social Welfare. He stressed that it was wrong and against fundamental human rights and freedom for people to mock at or discriminate against the disabled and stressed the need for people to regard them as part of society. The Social Welfare Officer added that the Department had planned to solicit for funds to carry out educational campaigns in the communities to create more awareness among the people about the challenges facing the disabled.

Mr Emmanuel Num, Tain District Coordinating Director gave the assurance that the district assemblies would offer the necessary support for the disabled.

He urged the disabled, who had acquired vocational skills to extend their knowledge to others, who lacked such skills, so they could all benefit from any credit facility offered by district assemblies. Madam Theresa Nyarko-Fofie, Coordinator of the Rural Youth Association, said the association was assisting the disabled and needy children, as well as unemployed youth to go into farming. Mr Bernard Clement Kwasi Botwe, Administrator of Wenchi Methodist Hospital, who presided, called for an expedited action on the disability Bill before Parliament.