The Rivers State Government said that it would celebrate this year’s international day of disabilities on 18th December, 2014 rather than the actual day of the celebration, 3rd December.
Commissioner for Ssocial Welfare rehabilitation, Hon. Joe Poroma disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
According to him, the postponement became imperative after consulting with other organizations and the parents body of persons living with disabilities.
He stressed that, the public and persons living with disabilities should not take an offense for taking the celebration to 18th December rather than 3rd of December, adding that he consulted with other stakeholders and the umbrella body of persons living with disabilities, noting that, that does not mean that they are neglect or not important in the scheme of things in the Rivers State government.
He said, the Rivers State government has always have them in mind hence the state government has trained lots of them to be useful to themselves, as well as empowered them.
Hon. Poroma also revealed that in the next two weeks to come the ministry will have it ground breaking ceremony on home for person living with disabilities.
He hinted that it is not easy to maintain those with disabilities, saying so far, he has 300 persons with him as the state government caters for them in both their feeding to everything.
“Some of them are very violent, they attacked some of my workers taking care of them, they did not stopped from there, they complaint of food, the state government provide for them saying its not enough.
“As far as I am concern it is the responsibility of every state to take care of her person living with disabilities”.
He assured persons living with disabilities that the moment the Rivers State House of Assembly passes the bill of persons living with disabilities into law, both government and private sector will provide and build houses that will accommodate persons living with disabilities.
Anyone who goes contrary to that law will be prosecuted by the state government according to the persons living with disabilities law of Rivers State House of Assembly. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
