The Wife of the Delta Governor, Mrs Tobore Oborevwori, has urged parents to stop hiding children with special needs from society.
Oborevwori, Founder of the ‘You Matter Charity Foundation’s, made the call at the foundation’s free medical outreach for children with autism and other special needs on friday in Asaba.
Speaking at the eighth edition of outreach, she said fear, shame and societal misunderstanding should not prevent affected children from receiving care, acceptance and opportunities to develop their full potential.
The wife of the governor said the intervention, initially designed to reach vulnerable persons across Delta’s three senatorial districts, had now expanded to cover all ten federal constituencies statewide.
Oborevwori disclosed that 860 children had so far benefited from free consultations, medications, educational support, assistive devices and other interventions provided through the foundation’s programmes.
She urged parents and caregivers to give children with special needs love, attention and sustained support, saying that they deserved equal opportunities and inclusion in society.
“Stop hiding them. Give them the care, attention and support they deserve,” she said.
Oborevwori assured families that the foundation would continue supporting them within its capacity.
According to her, the outreach was designed to promote greater love, acceptance and inclusion for children with autism and other special needs, alongside other vulnerable persons.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the foundation, Mrs Lawrentta Ogbedo, urged parents and caregivers to remain committed, saying love, patience and sustained support were essential to children’s development.
Ogbedo commended the council chairmen, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders for partnering with the foundation, saying their collaboration had strengthened its humanitarian interventions.
Speaking on behalf of the other council chairmen, Oshimili South Chairman, Mr Kelvin Ezenyili, described the initiative as a profound expression of love and concern for humanity.
Ezenyili said Oshimili South Council was also supporting vulnerable persons and pledged to sustain its partnership with the governor’s wife and the foundation’s humanitarian programmes.
Also, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, and other stakeholders commended the Oborevwori administration for addressing issues affecting people of the state, particularly vulnerable members of society and families.
They also applauded the foundation for extending healthcare, material assistance and social support to beneficiaries, describing the intervention as timely and evidence of commitment to wellbeing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some beneficiaries and caregivers expressed gratitude to Oborevwori and the foundation.
Highlights of the event included the distribution of wheelchairs, free treatment, educational and assistive devices, and bags of rice to beneficiaries.
