South Sudan Red Cross in collaboration with International committee for Red Cross has on Tuesday distributed wheel chair bicycles to about ten persons living with disabilities in Torit Town.
The Director Janet Lakony says the aim of the distributions is to enable cripple persons to have access to movement.
She says the wheel chairs will allow the disable to move freely.
“Disability is not inability these are people with us who also having the same mental ability but they have difficulties in walking and reaching some other areas they cannot cover distances like the way we walk in a normal circumstances but if they are provided with a transport this is like transport to them that can allow them to go the market, can allow to go even they can go to the well and get water they can go to the boreholes with small Jeri canes and they get water in a situation where all the children have gone to school they will be able to get what services that they need to get”
Lakony says her office in collaboration with internationals Red Committee for Red Cross is committed to supporting people with disability.
Meanwhile Ilam Joseph, a 43 year old woman living with disability is one of the beneficiaries of the wheel chairs.
She expresses happiness saying it is her first time receiving support from organizations.
“am very happy because since I came in this place I have never got any support, and this is the first time I got support, I earlier got some food items from DOT and today Igot from Red Cross and am very happy because they have help me a lot because I was moving using a stick or even sometimes I crawls but now I can am sure I can go to the Church using a bicycle, I can also go the Hospital using the bicycle, and if there is anything like funeral I can now reach even in a celebration like in a freedom square I can go and this will help me a lot. My life was not good because I was just sitted in one place”
Illam calls on Government and Non-governmental organizations to support in educating persons with disabilities for future employment and skills.
State Representative from the Ministry of Gender Child And Social Oyoo Mark Norbert, Welfare recognizes the support of Red Cross society describing it as a great work.
Mark calls on Red Cross and other partners working with disabled people to extend their services to the people in Payams.
Clip 3 Wheel Chairs Bicycle
“infact there is a word that we discover sometimes that say you can discover the way, the value of water when the well drain is dry and today we are discovering the importance of Red Cross here in Torit we are discovering what a great work they have done so we give a thanks to you so this services should not end for today I know even if your hand is short one time it will be long so extend this services to the payams to the various payams so that at least they get the same services although today we are giving to this I think it is about ten so you the ten we are giving thanks a lot”
Mark says the Government is working hard to ensure persons with disabilities are treated equally with persons without disability.