By IJEOMA UKAZU
To fight discrimination, create awareness as well as sensitise the public to reduce the stigma associated with limb loss, Irede Foundation has embarked on a walk and has announced 100 free limbs to children in NIgeria this year.
The two-kilometre walk which started from the Young Men’s Christian Association, YMCA, building Awolowo road Ikoyi is in line with the commemoration of the global limb loss awareness month targeted at reducing societal stigmatisation.
The Executive Director, Irede Foundation, Mrs. Crystal Chigbu, said “The global Out-On-A-Limb Awareness Walk is a two-kilometre walk with the aim to create an avenue for people to be part of the lives of People Living With Disabilities, PWDs, and the focus is to bridge the gap between persons with disabilities and those without.”
Chigbu said that the walk, themed ‘The Iredians’, is holding simultaneously at 50 locations across the world, stating that the Foundation has so far given out 250 limbs to children and aims to give out 100 limbs this year.
According to her, “We have given over 250 limbs to children across Nigeria and also launched the Inclusive Education Project which ensures children living with disabilities are able to thrive whilst bringing their whole selves to the academic environment.”
The Executive Director further explained that the awareness walk is aimed at promoting inclusion, raising critical funds and spotlighting the challenges peculiar to children and limb loss while celebrating their uniqueness, strength and their ability to thrive against all odds.
Chigbu said, “The advocacy walk also beaming a spotlight and promote the first-ever disability comic book in Africa, ‘Iredians’ which was launched in November 2021, where children living with disabilities are seen as superheroes, highlighting the active participation of children with disabilities who are fighting against peer discrimination.”
She said that since its inception 10 years ago, the Foundation had continued to fulfill its mission of inspiring action so children living with limb loss and their families can live independent and limitless lives.
Lending her voice, Ms. Wuraola Kayode, Programme Director, Irede Foundation, said in the past two years, the Foundation had unveiled an inclusive magazine for children which highlights disabilities in children, promotes inclusion, and discourages discrimination and bullying.
Kayode said, “Since the inception of this initiative, the foundation has led conversations across 40 locations globally with a direct reach of 15,000 people and an indirect reach of 10 million people globally.
“This has enabled the foundation the opportunity to raise awareness about Limb loss and Limb Difference, increase top of mind awareness about the work the foundation does and the support available for target stakeholders, and raise funds to continue to empower child amputees to enable them achieve their full potential.”