LACK OF FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THE CONDITIONS OF THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES As the term implies, disabilities are conditions of abnormal physical disposition which requires some measures of support to enable the victim of both the non-sighted or the lame to facilitate his movement. The basic and oldest known method of assisting the non-sighted disabled persons to effect easy movement is by another person (sighted) helping to lead the non-sighted by holding his arm or by use of a stick. This was improved upon by the use of trained dogs, and recently the sensory sticks which enable the non-sighted to go about unaided. The situation only applies to the advanced countries. In the developing countries the blind and the lame are still in their traditional stage of using sticks to aid their movements. In the northern Nigeria where the tradition of begging is more or less the way of life of the disabled persons, they employ young children who take them around. They have no information about how to improve their movements by the use of trained dogs and the sensory sticks. Even if they have, they cannot afford the cost of these paraphernalia. Similar condition is applicable to the lame. Majority of them who have turned professional beggars are assisted by either hired children or siblings who put them in wheel barrows or cart and traverse the cities in all weather conditions. In other cases some young cripples float on locally constructed platforms with disused castors which they roll on vehicular tarmacs begging for alms from moving motorists at queues. Often times these beggars get crushed by motorists who want to speed up to beat traffic lights.The reason for the use of these make-shift aids is due to lack of funds to purchase wheel chairs and specially designed auto bikes or vehicles. The most cherished concern of the blind disabled persons is how to decode information contained in books. He relies solely on the brail to access information. Unfortunately, in developing countries there is no technology to produce the brail and the average non-sighted relying on the brail must order from overseas at very expensive costs, with problems of cumbersomeness and difficulties in the postal system of developing countries. This cannot be relied upon for local information. Join us to support this cause by donating some facilities to ease the movements and support the conditions of the vulnerable groups. You can reach us per mail at lwfm@cox.net.

OTHER MAJOR CAUSES OF THE SUFFERING OF THE VULNERABLE GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. The true position in developing countries like Nigeria is that the majority of the physically challenged persons are literary starving to death on account of poverty and depends purely on the uncertain charities of other impoverished citizens. They do not have access to decent food, water, clothing, adequate housing, basic education, primary healthcare and other basic necessities of life. Recent tales of woes and lamentations from Oji River Rehabilitation Centre for the Civil War Veterans (Nigeria) paints a picture of complete abandonment of the physically challenged fellows by the three tiers of government in Nigeria. The inmates of the Centre, according to them earn their living by begging for arms which has brought shame and humiliation to them and their family, with their children dropping out of school. Meanwhile no effort whatsoever has been made by the government to develop the potentials of these people and make them employable or to provide for their food and health needs. Thus their wheelchairs are worn-out and begging for repairs. Ladies and Gentlemen, who can bell out the situation? WEEP NOT! Living Water Foundation has come to give the life of these people a meaning. But not without your support. Contact details: Tel: +1-757-391-4756 Website: www.livingwaterfoundationministries.org

ABUSE OF THE RIGHT OF HEALTH OF THE VULNERABLE GROUPS. Right to Health is synonymous with Right to life, that is why various International Instruments especially ICESCR provided for Right to highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (Article 12) to all persons including children, physically challenged and older persons. The Covenant requires countries to create "conditions which would ensure that all medical services and medical attention are made available in the event of sickness." For older person integrated approach, combining of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health treatment has been recommended by the U.N Committee, while for persons with disabilities both the Public and Private Health Sectors are enjoined to provide health services to them without discrimination. Unfortunately, the Rights to Health of the vulnerable groups appears to be only on paper especially in Sub-Sahara Africa like Nigeria which has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world i.e. 1050 deaths per every 100,000 live birth and also has the second to the highest record of Infant mortality rate in the world. In Nigeria the Health Budget is in most cases half of the Defence Budget which is a non productive sector. This shows how unserious the policy makers take the health of its citizens. www.livingwaterfoundationministries.org