Lagos State Offers Medical Assistance To PWDs

Luqmon Balogun, Lagos 

169

Lagos State government through the Office For Disability Affairs has offered funds for homes managing people with disability (PWDs), in the state, to ensure smooth administrative operations and cater for medical challenges of the PWDs.

Speaking at the Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, the General Manager, Lagos State Office For Disability Affairs, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal said the state government remains committed to the needs of all persons with any form of physical disabilities in the state.

Oyetunde-Lawal explained that over the years, the agency has supported and forged a cordial engagement with different groups of persons with disabilities as well as home owners that run non profit organisations and this has periodically improved the capacity of the homes and organisations to cater to the specific needs of the homes.

She said, “We are presenting support to few individuals and some homes that are non profit and have registered with Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs. We have over eighty of such homes registered and known to the agency and as you know, resources are scarce and what we are trying to do is to create an opportunity where we can stagger support over a period of time. And in this window, everybody has been selected to benefit from the government coffers, presenting individuals sums to those who have to undergo medical procedures, there are homes that have many children and you know the money is not enough especially in this kind of economic reality.

“Some homes are getting one Million naira another home will go with 2 million naira while some individuals are getting 500 thousand naira. What this signifies is the commitment from the government that we see you and thank you for your efforts and we are hoping that we are able to project you to the general public, so that when individuals and corporate organisations are looking for people to work with, they can come in your direction.”

LASODA Boss who called for support of government policies from the group, said the current administration led by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is aware of their efforts and will always give credence to their demands at all times.

She said the agency is looking forward to more partnership, as the gesture signifies the renewed commitment of the state to ensuring that no one is left behind in the capacity that the state is providing for the homes managing the PWDs.

According to her, “It is our hope that we can get corporate partnership to recognise and work with us so that we can improve the reality of persons with disability either as individuals or as children in different homes being run by amazing human beings who have picked those children off the streets and some of these children were dumped at bin sides, so we will continue in the capacity we are able to, to provide various forms of support and this time, these individuals happen to be the beneficiaries.”

Oyetunde-Lawal maintained that although, there are challenges ranging form adminstrative operation, but the government has been able to show them that whatever the challenges are, they are surmountable.

In turns, the beneficiaries appreciated the state government through the agency for the support provided in the past years which has propelled them to raise the bar in their performances and make their services more efficient.

Comments are closed.