By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
An NGO, The Eye Opener Women and Youth Foundation, has sensitised and inaugurated a physically challenged person’s Tobacco abstinence club in Kaduna ahead of the world disability day.
The sensitization and inauguration was done at Kaduna State Disability Affairs Centre, Kakuri Mekera in Kaduna South LGA of Kaduna State on Monday by Barnawa Unit leader of the Foundation Mrs. Gormwa Solomon Gotus amidst jubilation by the students.
Addressing the over 100 students, Mrs. Gotus said the Foundation did not want students of the center to be left behind in the campaign against dangers of tobacco, drugs and substance abuse in state and Nigeria in general.
She noted that there’s ability in disability, pointing out that physically challenge is not a barrier to progress in life, also adding that great people and great things start from the mind. “Once you conceived something great it means you can achieve it”, she noted.
According to her, “With the mind, brain and heart, they can create, innovate and achieve dreams. Sky is your limit, you can do a lot of things whatsoever as long as you think”, she emphasized.
“The program is for inaugurating tobacco abstinence club for physically challenge polio survivor We don’t want them to be left behind. Some of them are into tobacco and drugs abuse”, she said.
Also speaking, the Social Welfare official, Kaduna State disability Affairs Centre, Kakuri Mekera, Kaduna South, Zainab Tanko, appreciated the Foundation for the sensitisation, and said tobacco is dangerous to the physically challenged more so because of their disability conditions.
“We’ve almost 180 students, both male and female. We don’t have smokers and drugs abuse among them here because we always counsel them thoroughly unless when they’re back home, I wouldn’t know of that one.
“We don’t have any challenge at the centre with students because everything is provided for the current government of Governor Nasir El-rufai promptly, including their security.
Also in an interviews, National president National Association of persons with physical disability in Nigeria. Rilwam Mohammed Abdullahi, appreciated the Foundation for finding it necessary to sensitise persons with disability which has never happen at the centre.
He said people think the physically challenged persons are not into such habits, commending the Foundation for the wise counsel in sensitising his people and even inaugurating tobacco abstinence club section of disabilities.
Abdullahi also described the initiative as a welcome development for the disabilities for making them feel a sense of belonging in the Society.
Suleiman Abdullazeez, chairman joint national association of persons with disability, also in an interview, disagreed with the notion that people with disability hardly takes into tobacco habit, saying its because a lot of people don’t get closer them, noting that the disability persons should be seen as integral part of the society, and since habits are not written in fore head.
