….BoFIM, Oliver Family Donate Medical, Educational Items to Beneficiaries Across Lagos
A doctorate researcher at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, Dr. Michael Fadeyi, has called on the Lagos State Government and other relevant authorities to implement targeted health programs that will cater specifically to the medical needs of Persons Living with Disabilities, PWDs, in the state.
Dr. Fadeyi made the appeal recently during the public presentation of educational and medical items donated by him, the Oliver family, and coordinated by the Bo Foundation for Inclusive Media, BOFIM, a non-governmental organization that promotes the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups in Nigeria.
He explained that the nature of disabilities often requires specialized healthcare which many PWDs cannot afford amid the current harsh economic realities and low income levels.
“Due to the difference in disability, special healthcare is needed which may not be affordable by persons living with disability due to the harsh economy situation in the country and low income being earned by persons living with disability,” he said.
The donated items include a desktop computer, talking blood pressure monitors, accessible games for the blind, anti-seizure medication for children with cerebral palsy, and one wheelchair.
LASODA Reaffirms Govt Commitment
Representing the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Orientation, Dr. Oluwafunmilayo Adekola, thanked the donors for their kind gesture.
She maintained that the state government remains determined to improve the wellbeing of persons living with disabilities in Lagos through inclusive policies and support programs.
Beneficiaries Express Gratitude
Recipients of the items were drawn from various disability groups, including students of the Inclusive Unit of the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, members of the Nigeria Association for the Blind, and students of the Divine International Solution Centre for the Blind.
In separate interviews, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the donation and prayed to God to replenish the pockets of the donors.
Previous Interventions
The organizers noted that before the recent presentation, a desk scanner and a desktop computer had earlier been donated to the University of Lagos, while a washing machine was given to the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted in Lagos.
The event highlights the growing need for public-private partnerships to bridge the healthcare and educational gaps facing PWDs in Nigeria.
Reporting By Israel Etim