A Brazilian Lion’s Club member hopes to cross Africa walking on foot, on a mission to mission is to raise awareness on the difficulties that wheelchair-bound people face.
Lion Jose Castro, 62, covers at least a 100 kilometres and he is focused on bringing to light the plight of the disabled. He has so far been to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zambia.
On the other hand, Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Council for the Handicapped-MACOHA, Harriet Kachimanga, said Castro’s initiative will help people realize challenges faced by the disabled in society and get them to do something to alleviate suffering. “It’s a big issue in areas such as access to education, health care, livelihood services, just to mention a few. In many institutions such as schools and hospitals, structures are in accessible for those with mobility challenges,” she said adding this extends to people with hearing and visual impairment in school, hospitals and other institutions.
Meanwhile, those that wish to support Castro’s journey, moral or otherwise, are urged to join a whatsapp group named Walking Africa.