Doha, The Ministry of Culture, represented by Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind (QSCCB), on Monday organized the white cane procession at Lusail Boulevard, under the motto: “My cane illuminates my path”, to mark the White Cane Safety Day which coincides with mid-October each year.
Held in collaboration with Qatari Diar, the procession witnessed the participation of QSCCB’s affiliates from people with blindness and visual impairments from both genders, along with representatives of several government entities, disability centers, volunteers from the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and those interested in the issues of people with blindness and visual impairments, as well as their relatives.
The event primarily aims to shed light on the significance of the white cane for people with blindness, which is easy to be safely used in places. The event intends to raise the community’s awareness on the fact that users of this cane are people with blindness who must receive help, safe road, and oppo
rtunities to move.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of QSCCB, Faisal Al Kooheji, said QSCCB is committed to participating in the White Cane Safety Day on annual basis to raise the community’s awareness on this cane, because it is significant for people with blindness to be able to commute and move and ensure that they can practice their rights and responsibilities same as all people.
It is so easy for the people with blindness to use the cane to safely move and commute with self-reliance, Al Kooheji outlined, hailing the community’s participation in this procession that chiefly demonstrates the awareness level of the issues facing people with blindness.
For his part, Director of the CEO Office and Public Relations of Qatari Diar, Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada, said he is glad to see Qatari Diar being partner in this critical event as part of its responsibility towards the community, adding that he looks forward to further cooperation and sustainable participation in the efforts of promoting the community, as we
ll as supporting people with blindness and persons with disabilities.
October 15 has been devoted globally to mark the White Cane Safety Day each year, since the cane is the hallmark of people with blindness. The devotion came based on a directive from the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind (WCWB), while the United Nations has issued a statement to dedicate this event to the white cane.
Source: Qatar News Agency