By Saykpekpo Innis in Buchanan, Liberia
Visually impaired people say they are suffering and need urgent help.
They say life is becoming more and more difficult by the day for scores of visually impaired, as many of them cannot afford now to buy a cup of rice to feed themselves and their families, let alone a 25kg bag which cost close to US20.
In Grand Bassa County, like in other parts of Liberia, the visually impaired are at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to access to employment, amidst the increasing unemployment rate.
The Blind, many of whom say they have skills, are desperate for jobs right now to improve their livelihood. They wonder when jobs are going to be available for them under this new CDC-led administration to take care of their families.
Besides those who have various qualifications to obtain jobs but are facing hardship, the visually impaired in Grand Bassa County are also complaining about the present economic hardship under the “Pro-Poor” Government of President George Manneh Weah, who has been in power just over one hundred days.
According to them, since they moved to their home in the Four Houses Community, the lack of food, good shelter, toilet, hand pump, are their major challenges.
Speaking to the local Magic FM Community radio in Buchanan recently, they said they have been faced with these challenges for over five years now.
Mr. Robert Kpadoe, the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Blind said that for them to find food is difficult except Arcelor Mittal come to their aid but government only gives them food during Christmas and the country’s independence celebration on July 26.
According to Mr. Kpadoe, Arcelor Mittal provides about six bags of 25 Kg rice for them after every two months.
“The hunger that in Grand Bassa County most especially we the disable (blind people) to find food can be very hard but I know God will make way for us,” the Coordinator said.
Also speaking, Mother Janet Flahn said that life is not easy with them as things are becoming increasingly difficult.
“As for me, I can fix bread. When I get the money, I go buy cups of flour again to fix bread and nothing to keep to even buy one cup of rice, so that my worry,” Mother Flahn said.
Besides complaining about hunger, both Mr. Kpadoe and Mother Flahn complained about the lack of safe drinking water, something they said the First Lady was informed about during her recent visit to their area.
According to them, the existing hand pump at their area is damaged, thereby leaving them to fetch water from an open well which they said is not being treated and poses health hazard.
They are appealing to the First Lady of Liberia to renovate the hand pump so that they can have access to safe drinking water.
In addition, they are also complaining about the deplorable condition of the building they are currently in which they say lacks toilet facility.
The Coordinator said that their present home was renovated in 2016 by an NGO called Den Mark and the Gender Ministry.
The house was built by Pastor Prince Kondom of the Seed Faith Ministry in Buchanan, he disclosed.
The Coordinator of the Christian Association of the Blind said has said that the number of Blind people there has increased from 150 to 190.
They praised First Lady Clar Weah for breaking grounds for the Old Folks future home to be built in the Own Your Own Community in Buchanan.
Meanwhile, they are calling on NGOs, Companies, and stakeholders to follow the good example of what Mrs. Weah has done in the County.