By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
With the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, hunger has equally gone on the increase, propelling Questbro Skills Initiative, to come to the aid of disabled persons in three Local Governments of Plateau State.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), “about 265 million people could be pushed into acute food insecurity”.
Speaking while presenting the food items to the beneficiaries who cut across Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs of the state, Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Brian Pam Lang, said they decided to come to the aid of the disabled persons, because as able people during this pandemic, its not been easy for them to take care of their own needs.
Lang also said, as part of its, (Zero Hunger Project), which was ongoing before this pandemic broke out, its target was to ensure that citizens especially youths are empowered with the requisite skills to be self employed.
On the donation to the disabled persons, he explained that, “So because we have to begin a journey of a thousand miles with a step, that is why we have decided to extend palliatives to these disabled persons.
“We are starting with three LGAs in Plateau Northern Senatorial District which are Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi, where we are giving palliatives to 10 disabled persons from each of the councils for a start.
He added that beneficiaries of the palliatives consist of both religions, gender and carry along all disable persons ( Deaf, Blind, Albino, Crippled, among others).
“So far we have been able to access a data base of the disabled persons in the Northern Senatorial Zone through the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission in the State”.
He assured that once there is more resources, they will extend their gesture to other vulnerable persons.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, Kerlyen Gurumyen, thanked the organisation for the gesture and appealed to well meaning individuals to emulate what the group has done.
Gurumyen who was represented by the Director of Rehabilitation in the Agency, Jang John Andrew, urged the beneficiaries to adhere to the ground rules laid down by government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their various communities.
