The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State chapter, led by the president, Rev. John Ndubuisi, yesterday, 24th July, 2020, donated palliative items to Persons with Disabilities in Anambra to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on them.
The chairman of the Anambra State Disability Community Covid-19 Response team and also State JONAPWD chairman- Comr. Ugochukwu Okeke, in his welcome address, thanked CAN for remembering persons with disabilities in Anambra state at such a time like this when the effects of the pandemic is hitting hard on everyone, especially persons with disabilities who are the worst hit and thanked them for supporting the state government in their efforts to take care of the less-priviledged in the state and promised that the items they came with would be equitably distributed.
In his presentation, the CAN president, Rev. John Ndubuisi, explained that the Association, having done this charitable work in other places, deemed it fit to also extend the same gesture to Persons with Disabilities. He expressed their love for being in their midst and appreciated what God was doing in their lives and finally prayed God to bless them.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie welcomed the CAN delegates on behalf of the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie M. Obiano who constituted the Disability COVID-19 Response Team to co-ordinate palliatives for PWDs in the state since the state government alone cannot cater for the welfare of PWDs and pleaded with CAN to help in educating all the churches to see any PWD in church as their fellow worshipers and not as a beggar.
According to him, Anambra state is the only state that has domesticated the Disabilities Rights Law in Nigeria. He went ahead to call for support from every organization in order to see that the Disabilities Rights Commission is established. This, he said, will help eradicate every form of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Anambra state. He finally appealed for inclusion of Ministers with Disabilities from all Christians Association in the state.
Special Adviser to Hon. Commissioner for Children and Women Affairs Hon. Ebenebe Onyeka thanked CAN on behalf of the Hon. Commissioner for this singular act of love they have bestowed to PWDs and prayed ” that their oil well will not run dry in Jesus Name.”
The Chairman of Nigerian National Association of the Deaf Mr. Nwagwu Amobi in his closing remarks appreciated CAN on behalf of PWDs for remembering them at this critical time and prayed that God will grant them journey mercies to their different destinations.
The high point of the occasion was the presentation of the palliative items by the CAN delegates to 96 beneficiaries who cut across the three disability clusters in the state. The items donated are 96 bags of 10kg rice and 10 cartons of noodles which was distributed as follows: 82 bags of 10kg rice to various disability cluster groups, 14 bags of 10kg rice to the inmates of Nteje rehabilitation centre for persons with mental disabilities and 10 cartons of noodles to the Special school for the Deaf Awka.
Among the CAN delegates were the president, Rev. John Ndubuisi; the vice president, Rev. Moses Echefe; the secretary, Bishop Moses Ezedebego, Rev. Patrick Onowu, Rev. Anyanwu, and Rev. Amos Zebedee.