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Airtel ‘touching lives’ by assisting Ghana’s disabled

Accra, Ghana -Indian telecommunications provider Airtel has added a human face to its operations in Ghana with “Touching Lives”, a project to help improve the lives of physically challenged people in the West African country.

Airtel Ghana’s Touching Lives is dedicated to people “who are living in trying circumstances by offering them various support”, head of corporate communications Donald Gwira told IANS.

”This is not a social responsibility programme and at the same time, we do not want to take over the government’s role. All we are doing is to provide support that would help improve the lives of people in society,” Gwira added.

Last year the company took over the case of eight physically challenged cobblers in Bolgatanga, Upper East regional capital. Gwira said, “Airtel renovated the workshop for the cobblers and provided them with equipment that they needed to work in order to improve their lives.”

There were some 12 other cases which were chosen by people in various communities all over the country for the company to assist.

This year, the company is helping Rebecca Asantewa, one of the 13 who have been nominated for Airtel to help this year. Gwira said she “was nominated for us to help because of the tremendous work she was doing in the community.”

This is an exceptional case of a woman who has dedicated her life to helping people in her community with her own resources.

Rebecca has taken over the responsibility of looking after seven disabled children who were abandoned by their father because of their condition. Their mother, who could not cope with the situation, died 10 years ago. She has spent the past years looking after these children who have grown up now in addition to her own family responsibilities.

”They are unable to walk well and can only make movements through crawling. They are so feeble they can hardly do anything with their hands, including feeding, bathing and wearing their clothes. They are carried to attend nature’s call on a daily basis,” Gwira said.

He said Rebecca whom the children call “Special Aunt” stepped into the lives of the children at the expense of her own family and economic life. As a result of her involvement, she is unable to work because she is required to stay with wards all day long.”

One of the children who is now studying under a scholarship at the Ghana Catholic University depends on friends and other philanthropists for his feeding and all this falls on Rebecca’s shoulders as the only person who has to care for their needs.

Airtel’s involvement is to provide assistance to Rebecca to care for the education needs of these children. As a result, the company will provide wheelchairs, a television set and ramps up the stairs in the place where they live.

By doing this, the company believes it would touch the lives of people who would otherwise not have had anyone around to assist them.