Irede Foundation recently brought together stakeholders and beneficiaries of their projects tagged, ” Back to school for children with disabilities”, through the provisions of prosthetic limbs in Lagos.
According to the Organisations Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ayokunle Akinkugbe the goal of the project is to reduce the number of out of school children with disabilities through the provision of prosthetic limbs for child amputee.
The project therefore helps them to live their life to the fullest and be happy once again,with hope for them to walk again.
On her part, the founder of the Irede Foundation, Mrs Crystal Chigbu did an overview of what was done especially making life better for the champions going back to school through provision of 5 prosthetic limbs this year.”The champions for the year 2021 are Alliamee Owujede, Ifeoluwa Joseph, Fathia Fasassi and Michael Alagba”.
Chigbu informed that the project started 4 years ago with the total of 16 names all together and in year 2021 4 champions. She also said the prosthetic limb center has been upgraded for conducive limb production, fitting and rehabilitation process for child amputee, and provision for IEC materials.
The foundation brought attention to the plight of children with disabilities and the impact they have been able to make with support from stakeholders as they presented the project handover which focused on the Presentation of prosthetic limbs and the limb rehabilitation centre.
The event which was tagged, Back to school Project to the public was supported by NNPC/ SNEPCO.
According to Crystal Chigbu,” The goal of the project is to reduce the number of out- of- school children with disabilities through the provision of prosthetic limbs for indigent child amputees “.
The project , she informed simultaneously provides child amputees inclusion and access to live their life to the fullest void of human assistance. ” Over the years the project has provided prosthetic limbs to identified child amputees and support with required IEC materials especially during the annual ‘Out On A Limb’ event.
Chigbu explained that this year the partnership touched on three types of investment support. The first is the provision of IEC materials and second is the partnership where four champions were sent back to school through the provision of 5 prosthetic limbs.”
The third and perhaps most important is the upgrading of the prosthetic limb centre for conducive limb production, fitting and rehabilitation process for child amputees”.
This activities, she added led to a number of innovations and impact for the center and the beneficiaries. ” The cost reduction in the production of limbs for children based in Lagos and neighbouring states was a great relief.
It also allowed the Foundation to be able monitor the limb production process and guarantee the quality of limbs provided”.
In addition, this close proximity allowed the foundation to monitor the implementation of the Organisations child protection policy during the fitting process.
” We also provided a warm and comfortable environment for child amputees and their caregivers during the entire limb production phase.It also reduced wait time for required limb maintenance”.
Also discussed was the result of limb support pattern over the years. It recorded 2 in year 2018 and 4 in 2019. The pattern varied a bit in year 2020 with 3 prosthetic limbs , 1 pair of calipers, 1 pneumatic crutches. And in 2021 the records present 5 prosthetic limbs.
Mrs Bunmi Lawson, Public Affairs Manager, Dr. Alice Ajeh ER Communications and Mrs Lawretta Ehebha SP Adviser NNPC/ SNEPCO were present at the event.
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