Pusiga District assists persons with disability

Vincent Amenuveve Aug - 20 - 2014 , 10:59

The Pusiga District Assembly has distributed wheelchairs, livestock, weaving and sewing machines worth GH¢16,446 to 60 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the district.

The items were meant to encourage the beneficiaries to engage in income generating and poverty alleviation activities.

Nineteen out of the 60 beneficiaries were given a total of GH¢1,646 in addition to the items, to support their education.

At a short ceremony held at Pusiga where the items were distributed to the beneficiaries, the District Chief Executive, Mr Alhassan Abugbila, said the intervention was in fulfilment of the assembly’s obligation that mandated it to set aside two per cent of its Common Fund (DACF) allocation in support of PWDs.

According to him, so far, the district had in its record 232 persons with disabilities. He gave the breakdown as follows; 45 visually impaired, 114 physically challenged, 69 deaf and dumb and four mentally challenged.

He said, in 2013, the assembly received GH¢43,489 as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.

Under the circumstances, Mr Abugbila said, "the assembly will implement Act 715 of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006, and ensure that PWDs are integrated into mainstream national life.’’

He announced that the assembly intended to partner with the Rural Enterprise Project, an agency engaged in rehabilitation efforts, to train PWDs in skills that would make them financially independent.

He assured PWDs of the assembly's preparedness to continue to support them so they could improve on their livelihood.

Three of the beneficiaries, Mr Alebinde Azamah, Madam Hawa Kayaba and Madam Hawa Yakubu, who received two goats, a wheelchair and a sewing machine respectively, thanked the assembly for the support.

They assured the assembly of their willingness to use the items to improve their lives.