… As 52 – year- old centre faces closure
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
About 52 years after it was established, the St. Joseph Centre for the visually impaired in Obudu, Cross River State is at the brink of closure.
This follows the harsh economic situation the centre has been exposed to in recent years that had exposed visually impaired students to live in harsh conditions.
Checks show that over the years, it has become increasingly difficult to feed students and take care of their essential needs and, therefore, the centre may be forced to close down and everybody sent home.
Established on May 21, 1972, the centre took off with seven students, four staff and under the management of the Medical Missionary of Mary (MMM) then but now under the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ).
It has trained over 150 persons with visual impairment from across the country and beyond who can compete favourably in all fields of endeavour.
The Centre also engages in community-based rehabilitation programme by reaching out to other handicapped persons and are rehabilitated in craft instruction.
Its educational programme for the blind is based on braille reading through the finger typing, orientation and mobility (O&M). It also trains the students on the use of mobility canes to move on their own gracefully without any assistance and with reasonable freedom.
However, most of these programmes are no longer functioning because of the withdrawal of foreign aids as well as withdrawal of subvention by Cross River State government to the school since October 2014.
A directress of St. Joseph Centre, Rev. Sister Janet Okorie, said managing people with special need has not been easy, especially with the withdrawal of foreign grants and subvention from state government
“We have a total of 25 students. Our hostels are not in good condition. Feeding is a big problem because no funds available for the purchase of food items like garri, rice, beans, oil and other beverages.
“We also need solar light and a generator. The school needs mobility as well. We are living in terrible conditions and afraid that we may be forced to close down and send the students away.
“The school needs financial assistance for their upkeep. We need material assistance such as braille machines, braille papers, laptops and mobility canes, slates as well as stylos,” she said.
Sbe added that the school has been surviving through the assistance from individuals and organisations and calling on spirited individuals, charity organisations and those in position of authorities to come to their aid.