Gambia: Govi Celebrates World White Cane Day in Urr

Allafrica.com
Friday, October 26, 2007

Gambia: Govi Celebrates World White Cane Day in Urr

By Lamin Fatty

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Posted to the web 26 October 2007

The Gambia Organisation for the Visually Impaired (GOVI) celebrated the World 
White Cane Day followed by the (AGM) in Basse Upper River Region (URR).

The occasion was marked by a successful and colourful march past by the school 
children, government Departments, NGOs, the Visually impaired, business 
fraternity and a cross section of the general public, which was supported by 
the regional Scouts band under Abubacar Krubally.
 
Speaking on the occasion, the president of GOVI, Mr. Muhammed Korah highlighted 
that the aims and objectives of celebrating the day is to reflect on the 
discrimination and injustices that are perpetrated against the visually 
impaired. According to the GOVI president, this year's celebration is held in 
URR as part of GOVI's efforts in decentralising its activities. He pointed out 
that to be visually impaired does not mean that one is not a person. He urged 
the visually impaired people not to underestimate their potentials as visually 
impaired. For his part the Executive Director of GOVI, Mr. Mamut M. Touray, 
said the celebration is a yearly event but that this year's event is designed 
for the people of URR to be sensitized about the importance of acting 
responsibly towards the visually impaired. He said that the white cane used by 
the visually impaired people is a symbol and identification for the visually 
impaired people everywhere. He urged the general public to see the visu
 ally impaired as being part of the society.

The National Assembly member for Basse, Hon Sellu Bah, who tied a peace of 
cloth around his eyes in order to put himself in the situation of the visually 
impaired, also addressed the gathering. He urged the general public 
particularly the drivers to always take the visually impaired into 
consideration when driving.

Declaring the celebration open, the governor of URR, Alhagie Omar Khan 
reiterated that the day was a very important day, which according to him is 
highly proclaimed. He said the "White Cane" is a symbol indicating that the 
visually impaired are part of the society and who are capable of doing 
everything by themselves. He pointed out that the rights of the visually 
impaired are violated and they are being discriminated; that we make them feel 
hopeless in the society. He stressed that it is the duty of everybody to 
respect and ensure the protection and promotion of the visually impaired so 
that they can feel they are part of the society and can contribute towards the 
socio-economic development of the country. He finally thanked and commended the 
organizers of GOVI for choosing URR.


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