FIRST Lady Mutinta Hichilema, says there is a need to take children who are differently abled to school so that they become self-reliant.
The First Lady said the differently abled children must not be segregated but be given equal opportunities in life such as access to education.
Mrs. Hichilema said this through the Presidential Special Assistant for Special Duties Chairman General, William Banda in Lavushimanda District in Muchinga Province when he addressed members of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
And the first family through the relief habitant also donated assorted items including two-wheel chairs to two differently abled children and 20 bales of second-hand clothes and Chitenge materials.
The wheel Chairs were presented to 16 year old Cosmas Mulenga and 10 year old Dominic Chilomba while the other donated items have been given to other residents of Lavushimanda including the UPND party members who were given party materials.
“I am concerned with the welfare of the differently abled children and want them to go back to school and that is why we are here to present these to the children,” said Mrs Hichilema.
And one of the parents of a differently abled child who benefited from a wheelchair from the First Lady’s donation, Enelesi Mpundu thanked the first family for the donation, stating that it is the first of its kind.
Ms. Mpundu said she has been struggling to lift her 16-year-old Cosmas Mulenga because he cannot move on his own and this prompted him to drop out of school.
Ms. Mpundu said her son will now be able to enroll back to school with the help of a wheelchair.
“Raising this boy has been a struggle for me so this donation will enable him to also go back to school since he is now able to move with a wheelchair,” she said.
Another parent representative, Patrick Cheelo said the family was unable to procure a wheelchair for his 10 year old nephew, Dominic Chilomba and further thanked the first family for coming to their aid.
And Lavushimanda District Commissioner, Terris Kunda thanked the first family for the donation, stating that more needs to be done because there are so many differently abled people in the area, who could not afford wheelchairs.
