Rotary Club of Naraguta, Jos, distributed 14 wheelchairs to polio survivors on Friday to facilitate their mobility and to enable beneficiaries to pursue their life goals.
Beneficiaries were drawn from Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Shendam and many other local government areas of Plateau.
Synergy President of the club, Mrs Virginia Jang said the gesture was in line with Rotary International’s initiative to assist the needy.
Jang said the distribution of the wheelchairs could not hold on the occasion of the World Polio Day in October as originally scheduled as there were other activities lined up for the celebration.
“Nigeria has been declared polio-free, but we still have instances where few cases are coming up here and there.
“There is the need for continuous sensitisation and execution of projects to impact on those already affected by polio.
“Usually, such people who are either adults or children are not able to walk and do not have the opportunity of acquiring wheelchairs to assist them in mobility,’’ she noted.
She pointed out that the Rotary Club had observed that polio victims in the state capital had been receiving the assistance of wheelchairs over time and chose to extend the assistance to victims in the rural areas.
“We gave out 14 wheelchairs out of the 20 we planned to give out. Six of the beneficiaries were not present to receive theirs, but will collect at a later date.
“This is a continuous thing; we will continue to reach out to those in need of such assistance.
“Children were brought, but we felt that they were too small to power the wheelchairs; we will reach out to them when they are teens,’’ Jang said.
An 18-year-old beneficiary, Abdullaziz Adam thanked the Rotary Club for the gesture.
Adam, an SS3 student of Arewa Model Secondary School, Jos, said the wheelchair would help him immensely in his educational pursuit.
“I used to get to school late because of my condition, but with the wheelchair, I will be going to school in time.
“I want to sincerely thank the donors for this kind gesture; may God grant them paradise,’’ an elated Adam said. (NAN)
