FCT Minister solicits support for Karamajiji disable colony

The Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, has called on philanthropist across the country to support Nigerians living with disabilities with health care and skills acquisition across the country.

Bello made the call at the official inauguration of Karamajiji Disable Colony Community Based Social Health Insurance Scheme (CBSHIP), Karamajiji, Abuja suburb, on Monday in Abuja.

The scheme was initiated by Bells Echo, an NGO, and funded by Slovak Republic, while the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) adopted the project.

The minister, who was represented by Mrs Irene Elebge, Acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCT, said anything done to help the disable was done to help the government.

“I want to commend the disabled in the FCT for the way they behave on the street, we have not had a reason to chase them away because they are well organised.

“We call on philanthropists like Dangote, NGOs and other well meaning Nigerians to help the government to assists the disabled because government cannot do it all alone.

“Especially during festive period, we need their continuous assistance in the area of health care, education and skill acquisition, “ he said.

He said that the administration would look into the issue of electricity, potable water and accessible road in the community.

The Ambassador of Slovak Republic, Peter Holasek said that Karamajiji colony like many other across Nigeria were suffering from lack of health care facilities and other social amenities.

“We fully understand that when there are more refugees and displaced people, governments and NGOs must play an increasingly vital role in meeting their human basic needs.

“They must play an important role in advancing the responses to the lacking needs everywhere in the world,’’ the said.

Holasek appreciated the Bell Echo Initiative for making health a priority beside education to better the condition of the less privilege through meeting their needs.

Alhaji Dantani Muhammed, the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the Disabled Colony, appreciated the NGO (Bells Echo) for initiating the scheme.

He said that without the NGO commitment in initiating the scheme, the community would not have been part of the health insurance scheme.

Muhammed called on government to assist the community in the area of potable water, electricity and accessible road.

However, the President of the Bells Echo Initiative, Abbey Bello expressed his gratitude to the Slovak Republic for funding the community health care services.

Bello said that he was happy that the disabled would now attend the health care centre without economic barrier to prevent the spread of communicable diseases that have been plaguing the community.

“I appreciate the efforts and planning made by NHIS to ensure the registration, computerisation, sensitisation and the overall orgainsation of this project.

“We at the Bells Echo Initiative trust in the continuity of partnership with all stakeholders for sustainability of this laudable project. “

It was reported that 1000 disabled people was registered under the Community based Social Health Insurance Scheme which is the first scheme for the disabled.