Abia State: SCIAN donates wheelchair to member
The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), Abia chapter, has donated a wheelchair to their indigent colleague, Mr Francis Ukpai, to aid his mobility.
The Abia SCIAN Chairman, Mr David Onuoha, said that the members raised the money during the group’s monthly meeting in Umuahia.
Onuoha said that members were spurred by the association’s slogan: “Onye aghara nwanne ya,” meaning, “Don’t abandon a brother in need.”
“We cannot be using better wheelchairs and close our eyes to our member, who always falls from his bad wheelchair because of lack of money.
“The fairly used wheelchair was purchased at N80, 000,” he said, adding that a new one cost between N200,000 and N250,000.
He said that the members deemed it fit to task themselves and contribute money during their monthly meeting.
“Francis is a registered and committed member of our association, but every day he is falling from his wheelchair because it is bad.
“So we were touched to help him because we wear the shoe and know where it pinches, since government has not responded to our request,” Onuoha said.
He further said that the association, which had over 200 registered members, was facing financial difficulties.
He, therefore, appealed to the State Government to assist the group with monthly subvention to maintain it secretariat.
“We employed a secretary and personal assistant to run the secretariat, but we contribute money among ourselves to pay them monthly.
“If the government can also give us wheelchairs to help some of our members crawling on the floor, we will be grateful,” Onuoha said.
He expressed concern over the non-implementation of the state disability law, while calling for adequate sensitisation among the people.
The SCIAN Secretary, Mr Ononuju Ekobay, said they decided to help Ukpai, after they noticed that he was having difficulty moving in the old wheelchair during the World Disability Day celebration in January.
“A majority of us are either unemployed or underemployed, but we decided to task ourselves, to let the world know that we can help one another in our own little way,” he said.
Responding to the donation, the beneficiary expressed gratitude to God and the association for its kind gesture.
The 33-year-old unemployed, who hails from Alayi in Bende Local Government Area of Abia, shared his bitter experience using the old wheelchair.
“I live in Ohokobe, Umuahia and the road to my place is bad and my wheelchair tyres do fall off, so I always fell from it.
“But now that I have got another wheelchair, I am very happy and I pray that God will reward SCIAN members for their kindness to me,” he said.
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