JONAP Meets With Commissioner For Humanitarian Affairs, Proposes Establishment Of People With Disabilities Commission

JONAP Meets With Commissioner For Humanitarian Affairs, Proposes Establishment Of People With Disabilities Commission

The Joint National Association Of People With Disabilities, JONAP has proposed the establishment of people with disabilities commission in Cross River state. 

The association disclosed this earlier this week when members visited the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs- Dr Helen Egodo in her office in Calabar. 

JONAP is an association made of 4 clusters; the Albino, the physically challenged, the speech and the visually impaired. JONAP has it’s membership structure across the 18 LGAs of Cross River State.

She was elated to interact with them as they intimated her of their existence, structures and challenges.

Mr Bassey Mbang the leader of the Albino cluster, revealed that their engagements and reach outs have proven that there is a high concentration of Albinism in Boki LG of the state. In his words, he described albinos as an endangered specie further disclosing their vulnerability to skin cancer. 

The incumbent special leader, CRS, solicited that  the Ministry should advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the State government’s appointments.

Mr Ekpeyong Essien representing the southern senatorial district leader of the visually impaired, spoke on the proposed state Commission For People With Disabilities which will be under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. He further appealed that it should be included in Ministry’s subsequent interaction with the governor and the State executive council, to ensure the establishment of the commission whose bill was signed into law in the last administration. 

Mrs Faith Odu the assistant state secretary, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to interface with the ministry. 

Dr Egodo seized the moment to assure them of her commitment to serve the vulnerable in the state and further buttress His Excellency’s promise to touch lives of every Cross Riverian.