By: Edmund C. Gbarwee/Public Health Reporter/Nimba D-9 TV/nimbad9tv2018@gmail.com
Gompa, Nimba Liberia: -It was a very emotional Sunday morning when Nimba D-9 TV Outside Broadcast Crew headed by Edmund C. Gbarwee cut up with a 25 years old Physically Challenged but very optimistic Patricia Flomo at her home in Gompa Nimba Count.
She sadly narrated her story with tears rolling down are face.
‘’I was 15 years old, used to walked well but one morning I noticed pain was in my left leg and the next day I couldn’t walked and was taken for several other treatments but finally became disabled as I am today. I did not go to school because my parents though all deceased now where concerned of my well-being as they took me for years as I created bed sore coupled with other healthy related issues’’- 25 years old Patricia Flomo
Looking deeper into the issue of Persons Living with Disabilities, A UNDP Liberia NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR Disabilities 2018-2022 study was rolled out andthis document is to support Liberia in the realization of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Persons with Disabilities to align goals and affirm its commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons living with Disability (CRPD). A comprehensive three-year study on the conditions and rights of persons with disabilities in Liberia was conducted to investigate how multidimensional poverty affects wellbeing among individuals with disabilities and their families in Liberia and to examine the effects that existing policies have on the lives of persons with disabilities. Amongst some of the study issues but not limited SAYS:
- Women and children with disabilities and other persons of concern often experience multiple forms of discrimination, increasing their vulnerabilities and reducing opportunities to exercise their rights to political, social and economic inclusion.
- All individuals with disabilities are considered marginalized within Liberian society, and in need of greater supports and protection.
- Additional vulnerabilities are experienced on the basis of both gender and disability, with multidimensional discrimination placing women and girls in a significantly worse position than their male peers.
25 years old Miss Flomo is one of those amongst many persons living with disability this study is meant for but she has refused to sit back and become a beggar but has rather chose to become self-employed by Selling Oranges in the City of Gompa Nimba County in making earns meet.
“When I started to recover, I came to Gompa from the sick bush, and life was so hard. All these children have different fathers because of my condition. They will act as though they will help me and the other kids, but the moment they born by me, they will leave me with the child and go. My cousin took me in this house that he’s taking care of for a family in the USA and I thought it wise to get in the wheel chair with the baby in selling oranges for feeding all of us and in taking care of other home related matters. None of my children in school because I can’t afford now to send them. I started this business with LRD$400 which is USD$2.6 and for the past months this is what has and continue to help us. I have to take the baby with me and put the oranges on my head than pull the wheel chair with us on these bad roads you came with through city corners here in Gompa for people to buy the them. It is very challenging but I am very excited because I know one day all will be well through the faith and hope that I carry inside of me’’ Patricia Flomo told Nimba D-9 TV Outside Broadcast Crew.
She furthered added that she wants to learn to be a Seamstress but doesn’t have the means because orange selling is seasonal and after the season passes bye, what becomes of she and the children knowing also that the house they living is not theirs.
She lamented that she is very happy for Nimba D-9 TV to come and find she and the children in flagging their situation is something she’s out of words for.
‘’All I can say is thank you and may God bless Nimba D-9 TV because this is my first time since I been here in Gompa City Nimba County for the a media team to come and talk with me’’-added Patricia Flomo
In conclusion, Patricia Flomo had these words to say, ‘’To everyone out there, me and the children say hello and please help us as we don’t want to be begging in the streets but want to get empower in helping and taking care of ourselves.
I have authorized Nimba D-9 TV to share my Mobile Money and Sendwave numbers including my voice call number in reaching out to me.
Please contact me Patricia Flomo on:
Sendwave: +231880238776
Orange #: +231770293254’’. This is the full video link as Patricia Flomo narrates her story to Nimba D-9 TV: https://fb.watch/gZO0kV0_iq/?mibextid=BUZLm6
