India’s first lady hails state

By NATION REPORTER INDIA’s first Lady Savita Kovind has praised Government for the continuous support and care it has shown on persons with disabilities especially Children.

Speaking when she toured Zambia Institute of Special Education (ZAMISE) in Lusaka yesterday with her counterpart Esther Lungu, Mrs Kovind said Government should be emulated by all as it will lessen problems affecting the training institute.

Mrs Kovind said it was everyone’s responsibility to take care of people with disabilities in society and not to leave everything to Government alone.

Mrs Kovind has since contributed K10, 000 to the institution and commended management for taking care of children with special needs saying it was not an easy task.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s First Lady Esther Lungu noted that despite ZAMISE facing many challenges such as financial constraints and inadequate facilities, it was able to operate and render services to the children with special needs. The first lady said parents often faced stigmatization by society and were ashamed to allow their children to go to school which had caused children with disabilities to be completely excluded from enjoying social amenities that the able-bodied children enjoyed. She said the differently-abled children are, therefore, denied an opportunity to fulfil their aspiration and potential. “Last year in March I offered to contribute K120, 000 for a year which I was contributing paying on the monthly basis of K10, 000 instalments of which I finished last month towards the construction of Early Childhood Development Centre so that education can be enhanced to the special children who need education,’ said Mrs Lungu.