Group donates wheel chairs to physically challenged people

 A non profitable organization based in Banjul, the Foundation for Disabled People, has Tuesday donated 10 wheel chairs to disabled men and women, valued at the tune of D50,000. The handing over ceremony was held at the foundation’s headquarter in Banjul.

The donation coincided with the 10th anniversary of the foundation in The Gambia. The tri-cycles presented were procured by the foundation through funds raised in the Netherlands by their patron and patroness, Mr. and Mrs. Niels and Nieke Splitters.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Mr. Opesan Kenny Gabriel, the founder and director of the organization spoke on the staggering success his organization has registered since it was established in 2003.

According to the director, his organisation has worked and labored meticulously within the last decade to support the cause of disabled people.

The foundation, he reiterated, would be working closely with the US and UK governments in The Gambia and Nigeria in the area of human rights and democratization for the full participation of disabled people in politics.

He further commended the efforts of Tories, a member of the British Conservative Party who has laid down one million pounds fund to help disabled. That benevolent gesture of Tories, he said, is hoped to break down barriers facing disabled people who want to be parliamentarians, local councilors or civil servants. “Disabled people can contribute in national development, I am encouraging other countries to follow suit,” he said.

While drawing examples from the sister Federal Republic of Nigeria whose disabled foundation is doing incredibly well, Mr. Gabriel called on The Gambia government to support the foundation in the country so that it will not die a natural death.

He concluded by informing the gathering that the foundation will continue to give support to the cause of humanity, particularly to people with disabilities who are the most vulnerable in society.

In receiving the wheel chairs, Alagie Bajinka who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries articulated on their ardent quest to acquire wheel chairs. The donation, he said, is timely as it finds them in a situation when they were badly in need of wheel chairs.

“These wheelchairs will help us a lot to ease our mobility challenges. It is a great advantage for us. Last week, we went to Social Welfare office to request for wheelchairs and their response was that there is a shortage of wheelchairs for the time being. Now that we have wheelchairs, it will go a long way to help us. I thank the benefactors and urge them to continue rendering support to us as we always look forward for help,” he said.