…as You Matter Foundation Extends Outreach

The three local government councils in Warri Federal Constituency have pledged continued support for children living with autism and other special needs, as the You Matter Charity Foundation took its free medical outreach to the area.

Speaking on behalf of the councils at Ogbe-Ijoh on Tuesday, Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, said Warri South-West, Warri South and Warri North would continue to champion the cause of children with special needs and support initiatives aimed at ensuring that no child is left behind.

Oromoni commended the wife of the Delta State Governor and Founder of the You Matter Charity Foundation, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, for extending the intervention to families in the constituency, describing it as timely and impactful.

He noted that children with special needs and their families often face enormous challenges, including limited access to healthcare, medication, therapy and the financial resources required for a good quality of life.

“The true measure of a caring society lies in its willingness to reach out to people who need help and support,” he said, adding that the outreach had provided much-needed hope and relief to affected families.

Oromoni assured Deaconess Oborevwori of the continued partnership of the three councils. He also pledged support on behalf of the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, and the Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Hon. Festus Ashima.

Speaking at the event, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori said Warri Federal Constituency was the ninth federal constituency visited by the Foundation during the current phase of its medical outreach across Delta State.

She explained that the programme was driven by a commitment to reach vulnerable children and remind those living with autism and other special needs that they have a place in society.

According to her, the Foundation’s journey across the state had exposed the team to the enormous challenges faced by families caring for children who require medical attention, medication, therapy and assistive support. These experiences, she said, had strengthened the Foundation’s resolve to expand its interventions.

Deaconess Oborevwori announced that the You Matter Charity Foundation had so far reached 1,200 children through the programme, providing medication and other essential forms of support.

She described the figure as an important milestone but stressed that more work remained to be done.

The First Lady said the outreach went beyond the distribution of medication. It was also about showing compassion, listening to families, creating awareness, providing medical support and giving hope to people who might sometimes feel alone in their struggles.

She assured parents and caregivers that they and their children remained important and would not be forgotten, while calling for greater public support in building communities where children with special needs would not be hidden, neglected or stigmatised.

Deaconess Oborevwori appreciated the chairmen and chairpersons of the three local government areas, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, members of the medical team, political leaders and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the outreach.

In a goodwill message, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, commended the Foundation for sustaining the initiative. He described the outreach as a practical demonstration of compassion and concern for vulnerable members of society, noting that it would assist families facing difficulties in meeting the healthcare, mobility and educational needs of children with special needs.

Guwor pledged the support of the Delta State House of Assembly for programmes that promote inclusion and improve the welfare of vulnerable persons across the state.

The Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, also commended the Foundation’s humanitarian activities. He said the interventions reflected the importance of leadership that responds to the needs of vulnerable members of society and stressed that children living with special needs require the collective support of government, families, organisations and communities.

The outreach featured free medical consultations, medication and the distribution of support items. A total of 30 wheelchairs and 30 educational Android tablets were distributed, alongside therapy toys and a smart board. The Foundation also gave out 120 bags of rice to beneficiaries and families.

Another highlight of the event was the commissioning and launch of a newly constructed state-of-the-art staff cafeteria at the local government secretariat. The facility is expected to improve the welfare and working environment of council staff.

The Warri Federal Constituency outreach brought together government representatives, local council officials, health workers, families, political leaders and other stakeholders in support of children living with autism and other special needs.