AfricaPress-Tanzania: OVER 500 physically challenged tricycle riders in Dar es Salaam have received a donation of corona virus protection gears aiming to safeguard them as the work to earn a living.
The donations which were given out be the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), in corroboration with Tanzania Australian Alumni Association (TAAA), includes four Foot Operated Hand Washing Machine, fifty litres of liquid Soap and twenty litres of hand sanitizer, altogether worth 7m/-.
“NIMR and TAAA under sponsorship of the Australian government have come up with this creativity to help the disabled persons to be safeguarded against spread of Coronavirus as they continue with economic activities,” Said Prof Yunus Mgaya, NIMR Director General.
He said the donated tools, included foot operated tanks, which are more user-friendly to the disabled community, so that they are not left behind in curbing spread of the infection in their daily routine as they strive to get livelihood either riding or boarding tricycles from different parts of the city.
Mgaya hinted that this was just a beginning in creating awareness on Covid-19 preventive measures as they are being advocated by President John Magufuli in different speeches.
For his part, TAA president Dr Charles Makasi said that the donation was part of over 200 members of his association in using knowledge gained to give back to the society.
Makasi said that his Associations which have numerous professional who studied in Australia, was ready to take part in collaboration with NIMR to support economic development of the Disabled and Tanzanian community at large.
Giving vote of thanks, the chairman of the Union of Dar es Salaam Disabled tricyclists (UWAWADA) Mr Nyaikona Msabi, said that the donation has greatly addressed major challenge being faced.
“UWAWADA has more than 500 registered members, 300 of whom are directly linked in tricycle business. The donation will reach out this bigger number which was previously challenged with short of similar tools amid meeting different people every day,” Mr Omary Kumbilamoto, the mayor for Ilala Municipality, expressed his gratitude for the hand washing tools, saying that they will be positioned at Machinga complex building and Kivukoni station where the disabled are mainly doing their daily activities
