The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Ekiti State Chapter has celebrated with the Physically and Intellectually challenged to mark the Children’s Day celebration.
The President , MWAN, Ekiti state Chapter, Akinsoto Esther Taiwo disclosed this at the intellectually challenged school in Ido-Ekiti, Ido Osi local government area of Ekiti state during a programme tagged ‘MWAN Outreach’ in the state.
The gifts presented to the children during the visit includes food items, sanitary pads , toiletries, drugs among others.
MWAN President, Akinsoto said the gesture was meant to commemorate the children day globally celebrated on May 27.
“ The Ekiti state chapter of MWAN is coming to the special children school in Ido Ekiti, Ido Osi local government area of Ekiti state to give those children the feelings of what children day should look like , bringing smiles to their faces, bring joy to them with some gift items, to do some consultations and treat appropriately , some medications were also procured for their clinics.
“Generally what medical women is all about is to impact the society to affect the people positively and to bring smiles to the faces of the populace especially the women / girl child ,cutting across to the boy child .
The MWAN’s president noted that members of the association contributed to finance the expenses of the outreach ,using levies and dues of members to sponsor the programme .
MWAN while appreciating the government ably led by Mr Biodun Oyebanji for what he had done in the health sector also alerted them on the need for more performance of its roles as critical stakeholders in health sector for the benefit of the populace
She also commended the State Governor, for his efforts in health care services and for always reaching out to the less privileged especially physically challenged people in the state.
Dr Akinsoto while interacting with the principal of the school, realized they don’t have designated health officer that works in the school, they only have a junior health officer ,that is community health extension worker who is not trained to be able to handle the special need of these children.
She believes if more health workers are actually retained ,there would be more people working at the rural level, primary health care , that is where the help is actually needed.
The Secretary of the Association, Dr Bola Ibirongbe said the outreach was designed to put smiles on the faces of the special children with the assurance that the stakeholders are ready to assist them become fruitful in life.
Also, the state chairman of the Association of Lady Pharmacists in Nigeria, Aderonke Ajibola called on well meaning Nigerians to always remember the needy in the society.
The Deputy Director, Ministry of Education in Ekiti and the principal of the school, Mr Salami Oduntan Razaq while expressing gratitude to the female medical associations said the gesture was the first of its kind
“ the school has a lot of challenges , though the state government is doing its best , Governor Biodun Oyebanji has given us bright new day , he has given us a sense of belonging ,
“The school has staff challenges, being a special school with students with physical and intellectual challenges, so the best situation is that a teacher should be for five students as teaching them is not easy because of their nature, there is shortage of both teaching and non teaching staff. He stressed.
Mr Salami further said ” what the MWAN has done today is great , the children themselves are very happy , the gifts brought would be useful for them. The state government cannot do it alone, we want to call on other stakeholders just like MWAN to complement the efforts of the government by reaching out to the children.”
A Student of the school, Adekunle Emmanuel who spoke on behalf of others expressed appreciation and gratitude for the outreach with prayers that God strengthens the donors.