JCI holds road show in Benin for leprosy patients

Members of the Junior Chamber International (JCI), Benin Metropolitan, at the weekend held a road walk in honour of leprosy patients in Edo State.

The peaceful march was part of the activities by the group to mark the annual World Leprosy Day.
   
Addressing newsmen, the 2018 President of Benin Metropolitan, JCI, Nigeria, Amb. Bevy Efe, urged the state government and other relevant authorities to urgently rehabilitate the dilapidated Ogan Leper settlement, Ogan in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of the state.

The chamber expressed concern that the society and the government had neglected the patients.
   
The procession began at the Kings Square, through Sapele Road to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council.

The theme of the 2018 celebrations was “zero disabilities in girls and boys.”
   
Comrade Aliu received the JCI members at the secretariat, on behalf of the state Chairman of the NUJ, Roland Osakue.

He said leprosy patients should be handled in a fast-changing world, as had been acknowledged. 
   
He said unlike other parts of the world where lepers are accorded much care, love and empathy, Nigeria is yet to make convincing interventions. 

The JCI members vowed to end the discrimination against leprosy patients by sustaining the sensitisation and awareness campaign.
   
The president said: “We are aware that the media is critical to curbing the scourge and discrimination against leprosy patients, especially in awareness creation.
  
“A lot of people believe that leprosy patients should be ostracised because the disease does not have a cure, which is not correct. 

“Osiomo Leprosorium in the state needs the attention of government, the civil society organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations  (NGO’s) and other philanthropists individuals,” he said.