By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
American and German companies have donated mobility carts to people living in disabilities affected by the Boko Haram crisis in Borno State.
The companies, Gildan GmbH (German) and Med Shares (American) through a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) registered in both Germany and Nigeria, Bruderhilfe Social Development Initiative (BSDI) donated 100 mobility carts to the people living in disabilities in troubled Borno on Saturday.
Speaking during the donation of the items in Maiduguri, the BDSI president, Mary Bamigbe-Bruder said the mobility carts are for people living with disabilities in Borno state that are now residents of internally displaced persons camps.
Bamigbe-Bruder, who noted that her sponsor in Germany and America are also planning on assisting the physically challenged living in IDP camps in Borno with skill acquisition and investment plan, said the programme is aimed at bringing succour to people suffering from disabilities in camps and communities affected by insurgency.
She said: “We are committed to alleviating the suffering of people living with disabilities in camps and host communities, to ensure that their disability does not impede their movement both within and outside the IDP camps.
She promised that: “An empowerment scheme for people living in disabilities will be flagged off for registered people living with disabilities in camps and host communities of Borno state.”
She said her NGO, Bruderhilfe, is highly indebted to Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Federal Republic of Germany for his enviable role in ensuring that the project becomes a resounding success.
She said: “We at Bruderlife will continue to count on his leadership and exemplary role in supporting Nigerians in the Diaspora to succeed in their endeavours and in promoting cooperation among the private sector players of both Nigeria and Germany.”
Speaking while receiving the mobility carts (modernized wheelchairs), the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Yabawa Kolo said the donation signifies the passion to serve humanity; with spirits of brotherhood assisting people afflicted by trials and tribulations.
She said the gesture has rekindled hopes for the disabled; both living in camps and host communities of Bama, Monguno, Dikwa, Damboa, Gwoza and Gamboru, a border town with Cameroon.
She said: “This is the second time, we will be distributing wheel chairs to people living with disabilities in recent time.”
She said the carts will be distributed to disabled persons, selected by a joint National Association of Persons (NAP) living with disabilities.
She lamented that some people became disabled as a result of sporadic gunshots and bomb blasts that at a time was recurrent decimal in Borno.
