The lives of children living with autism and other special needs in Warri Federal Constituency received a boost as the You Matter Charity Foundation took its free medical outreach to the area, providing healthcare services, medications, wheelchairs and other forms of assistance to beneficiaries.
The intervention, which was held at the Warri South-West Local Government Council, Ogbe-Ijoh, also provided an opportunity for parents and caregivers to access support aimed at easing the challenges associated with caring for children with special needs.
Addressing beneficiaries at the event, the Wife of the Delta State Governor and Founder of the You Matter Charity Foundation, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, said the initiative was born out of the need to ensure that children living with autism and other special needs received the care, attention and opportunities they deserved.
She explained that the Foundation’s intervention went beyond medical treatment, noting that it was designed to give families hope and reassure them that they were not alone in their journey.
Deaconess Oborevwori said children living with special needs should be given every opportunity to discover and develop their abilities, irrespective of their conditions.
“Every child deserves to be loved, cared for and given the opportunity to live a meaningful life, regardless of the challenges they face,” she said.
She noted that the cost of medical treatment, therapy, assistive devices and educational materials often placed considerable financial pressure on families caring for children with special needs.
According to her, taking the programme to different communities would enable more families to benefit from essential services without having to bear the full cost.
Deaconess Oborevwori urged parents, caregivers and members of the communities to promote acceptance and inclusion, stressing that disability should not be a reason for discrimination or neglect.
She said the Foundation would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to identify areas of need and provide interventions that would improve the wellbeing of vulnerable persons across Delta State.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor commended the Foundation for sustaining the initiative, describing the outreach as a practical demonstration of compassion and concern for vulnerable members of society.
Guwor said the intervention would go a long way in assisting families who faced difficulties meeting the healthcare, mobility and educational needs of children living with special needs.
He pledged the support of the State House of Assembly for programmes that promoted inclusion and improved the welfare of vulnerable persons in the state.
The Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, speaking on behalf of the Chairmen of Warri South, Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, and Warri North, Hon. Festus Ashima, expressed appreciation to the You Matter Charity Foundation for bringing the programme to the three local government areas.
Oromoni described the intervention as timely, noting that it would provide much-needed support to families and children who required special care.
He commended Deaconess Oborevwori for her efforts towards improving the lives of vulnerable residents and assured that the three councils would continue to support initiatives that benefited their people.
The Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, also commended the Foundation for its humanitarian activities.
Arenyeka said the outreach reflected the importance of leadership that was responsive to the needs of vulnerable members of the society.
He stressed that children living with special needs required the collective support of government, families, organisations and communities to enable them live fulfilling lives.
Earlier, the Director General of the You Matter Charity Foundation, Barr. Lawrenta Ogbedo, said the Warri intervention formed part of the Foundation’s statewide programme of taking healthcare and other forms of assistance directly to communities.
She said beneficiaries had received free medical services, medications, wheelchairs, learning materials and other assistive support through the programme.
Ogbedo explained that the Foundation’s interventions were intended to address some of the practical challenges faced daily by children with special needs and their families.
She said the impact of the programme could be seen in the improved mobility, access to healthcare and educational opportunities made possible through the various interventions.
The Director General noted that the initiative represented an important step towards strengthening inclusion and ensuring that children living with autism and other special needs received the attention required to develop their potential.
The programme featured free medical consultations, medication and the distribution of wheelchairs and other support items to beneficiaries.
The event also witnessed the commissioning of a newly constructed state-of-the-art cafeteria at the local government council.
Parents, caregivers and other beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the You Matter Charity Foundation, saying the intervention had reduced some of the challenges they faced and provided valuable support to their families.
