Miss-Delectable
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Vanguard Online Edition - Funds may stall HIV/AIDS awareness for deaf persons
Few days to the kick off of the awareness week on HIV/AIDS for deaf persons being organize by the Bayelsa State Association of the Deaf (BSAD) for its members; all appears not well as members of the body are worried over alleged government silence on their request for assistance.
Bayelsa is one of the few states in the federation where persons living with Aids are placed on N10,000 monthly subvention by government as part of measures aimed at encouraging every Bayelsan to known their status and to also augment their income.
But the measure to a great extent is being abused by some unscrupulous elements who though are not infected with the virus but had one time or the other cashed in on the scheme to pose as carriers, all in bid to collect the stipend meant from the HIV/AIDS victims.
In a statement signed by Samuel Igwe-Icho and Atinbo Ifugu, chairman and secretary respectively, the group expressed sadness that barely twelve days to the commencement of its programme aimed at sensitizing its members on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS scourge and how to prevent its spread government is yet to come to their aid.
The group wondered why a seminar and workshop on the disease for the deaf should not be of importance while normal persons have had HIV/AIDS workshop almost on monthly basis with the result that those infected with the virus are able to live their normal life.
Said the group, “That we are deaf does not exclude us from government patronage. We are Bayelsans, and whatever information on HIV/AIDS should also be made available to the deaf,
“We are therefore using this medium to appeal to the chairman of the State Action Committee on Aids, and the Commissioner for Health to immediately intervene in our plight by notifying His Excellency, Governor Timipre Sylva to please assist with funds to carry out this very auspicious and important campaign.”
Though the group noted that it had sent a proposal to the governor through office of the Secretary to the State Government which in turn minutes same to the Commissioner for Gender and Social Development but that “the signals from the ministry so far, is not encouraging hence, the apprehension in the Bayelsa State Deaf community.”
Efforts to get the comment of the Commissioner for Gender and Social Development proved abortive as she was said to have travelled out of the state on official assignment.
Few days to the kick off of the awareness week on HIV/AIDS for deaf persons being organize by the Bayelsa State Association of the Deaf (BSAD) for its members; all appears not well as members of the body are worried over alleged government silence on their request for assistance.
Bayelsa is one of the few states in the federation where persons living with Aids are placed on N10,000 monthly subvention by government as part of measures aimed at encouraging every Bayelsan to known their status and to also augment their income.
But the measure to a great extent is being abused by some unscrupulous elements who though are not infected with the virus but had one time or the other cashed in on the scheme to pose as carriers, all in bid to collect the stipend meant from the HIV/AIDS victims.
In a statement signed by Samuel Igwe-Icho and Atinbo Ifugu, chairman and secretary respectively, the group expressed sadness that barely twelve days to the commencement of its programme aimed at sensitizing its members on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS scourge and how to prevent its spread government is yet to come to their aid.
The group wondered why a seminar and workshop on the disease for the deaf should not be of importance while normal persons have had HIV/AIDS workshop almost on monthly basis with the result that those infected with the virus are able to live their normal life.
Said the group, “That we are deaf does not exclude us from government patronage. We are Bayelsans, and whatever information on HIV/AIDS should also be made available to the deaf,
“We are therefore using this medium to appeal to the chairman of the State Action Committee on Aids, and the Commissioner for Health to immediately intervene in our plight by notifying His Excellency, Governor Timipre Sylva to please assist with funds to carry out this very auspicious and important campaign.”
Though the group noted that it had sent a proposal to the governor through office of the Secretary to the State Government which in turn minutes same to the Commissioner for Gender and Social Development but that “the signals from the ministry so far, is not encouraging hence, the apprehension in the Bayelsa State Deaf community.”
Efforts to get the comment of the Commissioner for Gender and Social Development proved abortive as she was said to have travelled out of the state on official assignment.