JOS/Nigeria: Most Rev. Philip Dung, the Catholic Bishop of Shendam in Plateau, on Thursday donated 15 wheelchairs to some Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
Presenting the wheelchairs to the beneficiaries at Divine Mercy Catholic Hospital Luuwokur, Shendam, Dung said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the PWDs in his diocese and the state in general.
“This gesture is to ameliorate the plight of these our brothers and sisters as part of the Church’s work of charity and commitment to better the lives of the physically challenged in the diocese.
“It is also aimed at making them to have a sense of belonging.
“Let me also advise the beneficiaries not to be discouraged by their physical challenges but be focused and determined to achieve their goals in life,” Dung said.
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Silvanus Ali, Coordinator of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in the diocese, said the diocese since inception had worked with several partners at the state, national and global levels toward the inclusion of people with disabilities in its programmes.
He added that both Muslims and Christians had benefitted from the generosity of the Catholic Church.
On his part, Rev. Fr. Raymond Gofut, the Vicar General of the diocese commended the bishop for the gesture, adding that it would go a long way in improving the living standards of the PWDs.
He added that the gesture would further promote peace and unity in the locality and the state in general as both Christians and Muslims benefited from it.
He urged adherence of the two religions to unite toward entrenching peaceful coexistence in the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Yohanna Paishol, thanked the bishop for the donation.
He said that the gesture would go a long way to ameliorate their plight as it would ease their movement to earn their livelihood.
Paishol prayed God to bless the Bishop and the entire Catholic community on the Plateau, saying that gesture would stimulate them to promote peace and unity in the state.
The event had in attendance representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and that of the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI).
The beneficiaries were drawn from Qua’apan, Langtang and Shendam local government areas of the state.
