Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended financial support ranging from N1 million to N2.5 million each to 15 families of persons living with cerebral palsy and down syndrome in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who made this known at the weekend during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and Down Syndrome Day Celebration, assuring that he was committed to seeing that at least two more special centres that would cater for the care of persons living with these conditions were established in the state.
The governor was accompanied to the event by his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Dr Aina and General Manager of Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mr Dare Ogundairo.
The governor, who took time to meet with, listen to, celebrate with and show support to families of persons living with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, also promised a 30-year-old graduate from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Mr Anthony Kupe, employment into the civil service.
Among the beneficiaries of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s gesture is the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) housing four abandoned children living with cerebral palsy.
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The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, who was represented by Prof Adeyemo, informed that the hospital wanted the state government to take over the care of the children, saying that the oldest among them had been staying at LUTH for at least 22 years.
During the event, suggestions on creating a hub to develop and expand the creativity of persons with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, capacity building for caregivers, doing more with the inclusive curriculum in education, creating awareness on the kinds of assistive devices for cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, as well as creating a Cerebral Palsy unit in all the local government areas were put forward by parents and caregivers.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Persons Living With Disability, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, revealed that the recipients were selected randomly from a wide pool of persons and families with cerebral palsy.
She said this was done because the governor was keen on interacting with as many as he could to get the best results for all concerned.
Organisations and participants who attended the event were Cerebral Palsy Center, Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria and Modupe Cole Foundation, among others.
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