By Independent
This year’s National Cerebral Palsy Family Forum
will remain unforgettable in the minds of families with children living with
the condition as 21 of them received wheel chairs, worth N2.1 million from
Benola Cerebral Palsy(CP) Initiatives while others, even adults went home with crutches.
Over 320 CP families received free counselling and
medical checks during the one-day forum organised by Benola with support from
Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) to mark the fifth anniversary, recently in Lagos.
Commenting, AVM (Rtd) Femi Gbadebo, the Founder,
Benola Cerebral Palsy(CP) Initiatives, said that the donation were made
possible through the contributions of Trustees, Advisory Board and Programme
Planning and Implementation Team of the organisation.
According to him, the forum was a huge success as there were over 320 CP
families who were attended to by
40 healthcare professionals of the 450 individuals who registered at the venue.
Gbadebo also said that families came from as far
as Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Warri, Ekiti, Ibadan and Oyo. Finally, 21 CP
Children went home with Wheelchairs while a number of others, including adults
went with crutches and walking sticks.
He said: “It was our best outing ever and it was
made possible by kind people like you. As we continue working to change the
Face of Cerebral Palsy and Disability Management in Africa, we pray for more of
God’s richest blessings upon our lives.
“The Family Forum which is the fifth of its kind
witnessed a huge success as families and Cerebral Palsy patients gathered to
interact with one another.
Mrs. Obilana Adenike, who represented Mrs. Uzamat
Akinbile-Yusuff, the Commissioner,
Ministry of Youth and Social Development, at the occasion said that the Lagos
State will remain committed towards
supporting children and persons with disability.
Akinbile-Yusuff also called
on Nigerians to support families and persons with disabilities with required
information to handle cases of Cerebral palsy.
She said, “The Lagos state supports all children
and persons with disabilities especially cerebral palsy cases through provision
of suitable homes in partnership with non-governmental organizations who are
working relentlessly to assist this category of persons.
“The state government precisely in 2011 demonstrated
its love for physically challenged persons when it promulgated the disability
bill, and eventually created Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA),
as an agency responsible for championing the cause of persons with
disabilities. A lot of success has been recorded through the invention of the
Office.
“Lagos State Government will not relent in
providing the right atmosphere for persons with disabilities to unleash their
potentials.”
Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan, Special Adviser On Social
Development to Governor Akimwumi Ambode, advised mothers to break the silence
and take advantages of opportunities counselling and available health care to
add value to their lives.
She said, “It is a life long journey, sometimes
in-laws and husbands may not understand, but you are the mother who carried the
child, I understand what you are going through, but I charge you not to hide
the children, bring them out let the world see them, this will awaken the
social consciousness of an average Nigerian to begin to show love to them.
“The government will give them equal opportunity
to develop and harness their full potential.”
