ZADAYA-KANEM: An NGO initiative empowering persons with disabilities

“All that I envisioned  is to have a society where there is no or just little childhood disease and all persons with disabilities fulfill their capabilities,be empowered in their identity, right and capacity, enjoying equal chances in communities free of bias and governed by empathy and love,” said Adama Balla.

Ms Balla, a graduate of business education who suffered disability due to childhood polio infection, had in 2018 formed ‘Zadaya-Kanem Polio and disabilities initiative’  (Zadaya-Kanem PDI)

a non-governmental organisation with the aims of providing services that support Polio eradication and engage persons with disabilities to participate in all aspects of life.

She intends to achieve this by integrating the issues of disabled people into national development agenda based on the United nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Ms Balla said she wished to have a society where there is no, or just little childhood disease and all persons with disabilities fulfil their capabilities.

Ms Bala now a mother to a beautiful baby girl wants every person with a disability my “be empowered in their identity, right and capacity, enjoying equal chances in communities free of bias and governed by empathy and love.”

She advocates for change in the society to achieve a society where equity of social justice for persons with disabilities is guaranteed through specific projects, advocacy and partnership with relevant stakeholders.

Ms Balla said Zadaya-kanem PDI “will be the leader in improving an  independent living philosophy.

“We envision an integrated community in which people with disabilities are valued and participate in all aspects of society.”

So far, since its creation in 2018, ZADIYA has been able tonengage in compound dialogue with the non compliance communities to improve the acceptance of OPV and routine immunization.

“We have done in between rounds house to house mobilization.
We have been to all the 27 LGAs in Borno State. Social mobilizing the communities on the importance of safe guarding the health of their children and trying to create access to education to their children.

“We have been to IDP Camps to counsel persons with disabilities on occupational therapy (ie how to get back on their feet after the devastating effects of being a PWD)

“We ha w counsel parents and caregivers of children with disabilities on the adverse effect of street begging.

“We have given orphans with disabilities  mobility aid clothes and shoes.

“We had our back to school drive and it’s a huge success and presently we working on getting some intervention for orphans with disabilities and our Ramadan feeding drive.”