Written by Saka Richard 2012-04-19 15:56:00 Read 1042 Times

As we are celebrate our women daily, meet Nancy Lihana fondly referred to a madam Nancy who is blind but teaches normal pupils at St. Columban’s Primary school in Saboti area. 

The ever jovial teacher engaged me in a lengthy conversation on her life history citing the lack of favorable infrastructure meant for people with disabilities and her being the only blind teacher has forced her to seek the help of other teachers and pupils in executing her duties. 

She called upon the government to consider offering a helping hand to people with disability as they can be useful to the society like any other able members of the society. 

“We should not be looked down by the society, look at me am blind but earn my bread without begging for it but earn it trough my sweat,” commented Miss Lihana. 

Out of curiosity I wanted to know how she gauged if her pupils had understood and she quickly pointed out that she used question and answers which she said was the only way of her knowing the impact of her lesson to the pupils. 

The only major challenge she faces is the use of Braille which her pupils who have sight do not understand. 

Her message to women is that they should be hard working as no sweat no gain. 

“Do not sit at home and expect to get everything you want go out and earn it,” she advised the women. 

Her deputy headmistress sister Noela Namasaka praised her as a hardworking teacher who despite her disability comes to school very early to take her pupils through morning preps before lessons start at eight. 

“She is instrumental in guiding and counseling and our pupils look up to her as a role model, she is the best teacher so far in this school,” noted the deputy school head. 

It should be noted that Miss Nancy Lihana was not born blind but got blind while in primary school and her situation has never been diagnosed after visiting several hospitals across the country. 

This day, we celebrate her since instead of despairing due to her condition she has conquered it and used it to the maximum to change people’s life. 

Indeed this is the strength of a woman which all women should emulate.

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