Pader Woman MP Aciro donates wheelchairs to persons with disabilities

31 May 2025, 07:34

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

In a strong show of inclusive leadership, the Woman Member of Parliament for Pader district, Hon. Aciro Paska Menya, has donated 12 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities in Payira zone.

The donation exercise took place on Friday at Lacekocot Health Centre III in Tanga town council, drawing dozens of residents, local leaders, and beneficiaries in a colorful community gathering.

The wheelchairs were distributed to school-going children and elderly persons from Atanga subcounty, Atanga town council, Laguti, Angagura, and Ajan subcounty areas that form the Payira zone.

The initiative, which was made possible through Hon. Aciro’s lobbying of a non-governmental organisation she chose not to disclose, is aimed at addressing the dire mobility challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Among the beneficiaries was 70-year-old Acire Jackson from Laguti subcounty, who said the support came as a miracle.

For years, he had been confined to his home due to lack of mobility. With the new wheelchair, he said, he can now move around, attend community functions, and access health services with dignity.

Another recipient, Mego Nyako Jerusalem, noted that the wheelchair had restored her sense of worth. Often stigmatised and overlooked, she said the donation was a rare moment of recognition and respect for people like her who live with disabilities.

Other beneficiaries included children who had dropped out of school or faced difficulty attending regularly due to limited mobility. With the new wheelchairs, many are expected to return to school, boosting their self-esteem and participation in community life.

While handing over the wheelchairs, Hon. Aciro encouraged caretakers and parents to ensure that the beneficiaries, especially children, are trained in the safe use of the wheelchairs and monitored closely as they adapt to their new mobility tools. She emphasised that the wheelchairs were not just donations but instruments of empowerment and inclusion.

Hon. Aciro also announced that another batch of 12 wheelchairs will soon be distributed to persons with disabilities in Puranga zone, with the handover scheduled to take place at Puranga Primary School playground. This marks the continuation of her commitment to ensure no one in Pader district is left behind due to physical limitations.

Speaking to community members, Hon. Aciro said that if entrusted again with leadership in the 2026 general elections, she would double her efforts to lobby for more support for vulnerable groups. She reiterated her vision for a Pader district where development reaches even the most marginalised.

Local leaders, including youth and disability advocates, hailed the initiative as timely and impactful. They praised the MP’s practical and compassionate leadership style, urging other leaders to emulate her example.

As the 2026 elections approach, Hon. Aciro’s actions are beginning to reshape perceptions of political service—moving from promises to tangible acts of community transformation.