RECDOT marks world disabled day in style
ISAAC OJO writes that Rehabilitation Centre for Disables, Old and Trumps (RECDOT) Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state on Saturday marked United Nations World Disabled day in the premises of the institution.
At the event, personalities across the length and breadth of the state graced the occasion with the theme ‘Empowering persons living with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equity.
In her speech, the proprietor of RECDOT, Dame Rosemary Odunukwe noted that the institution came on board in 1998 and has been doing its best to ensure that persons living with disabilities are taken off the street.
Her words: “The purpose of gathering here is not just to make the inmates of RECDOT and the physically deformed feel good but to drum support for their empowerment in all aspects of life”.
She pointed out that RECDOT has empowered some children abandoned by their parents and trained them up to university level and that some of the trainees of the institution are back working with RECDOT.
Dame Odunukwe however observed that affluent persons are still paying lip service to the issue that has to do with the welfare and empowerment of people living with disabilities and that the earlier the policy makers adopt all-inclusiveness in their approach the better for all.
She said RECDOT would have love to do more but is being limited by paucity of funds.
Dame Odunukwe while thanking individuals who have helped RECDOT in one way or the other appealed to other eminent personalities in and outside the state to rise to the occasion of giving a helping hand to the disabled.
In the homily delivered during a pontifical mass at RECDOT centre, Rev Fr Jerome Okonkwo said deformity is the basic characteristic of humanity and as such all hands must be on the deck to assist the less privileged.
The United Nations World Disabled Day celebrated in RECDOT featured lectures on health, free medical service and Christmas party for the inmates.
Pix : Dame Rosemary Odunukwe and some persons living with disabilities in RECDOT
