Rivers state has resolved to take measures to discourage critically sick persons from wandering and street begging.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, said after a strategic committee meeting on the removal of chronically ill persons from streets in Port Harcourt, such ill persons wander in the company of other physically fit persons to seek alms.
The deputy governor further said that the presence of such persons on the streets had negative health implication on the public.
“We have decided to take steps towards putting such persons off the streets due to the public health risk they pose.
“Such vulnerable persons are contrived to beg for money to the detriment of their health by their exploiters,’’ he said.
Banigo further said that putting chronically ill persons off the roads would protect them from further exploitation and avail them time for better upkeep.
She commended the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, an NGO, and the National Orientation Agency for their commitment towards realizing this objective.
In his remark, the committee Chairman, Mr. Iminabo Fubara, said the essence of the move was to tackle the plight of chronically ill persons by freeing them from exploitation by their supposed care-givers.
