A Principal Community Nurse at the Abura CHPS zone in Cape Coast, Mrs. Reachel Adjaottor Adom has been recognized at the prestigious MTN Heroes of Change 2025 awards for her unwavering commitment to children living with disabilities.
This recognition comes after several years of selfless work through her NGO, the Challenged Children Foundation, which she founded to support children with physical and neurological challenges.
What began as a deeply personal journey in 2014—after her son was diagnosed with spina bifida—has evolved into a full-scale mission to transform lives within her community.
“Yes, we started small with our son who had a challenge. In 2014, he was diagnosed with spinal bifida, so myelo-meningous, the extreme one. After the surgery, he was declared wheelchair-bound, but we were not deterred because of that condition,” Mrs. Adom said in an interview with ATLFMNEWS.
Working largely from her own home with the help of her husband, Mrs. Adom currently supports ten children with various disabilities, providing not just care but access to education, medical services, and emotional support.
She emphasized that during healing process of her son, they came to the realization the children had been neglected by their family. However, knowing that the children had potential they contacted the mothers of the children.
“I see that, no, there is something that can be done. As I get closer to the mothers, I ask what can be done” she said.
“I try to educate, counsel and visit them. So, through doing that, I realized that there is more that we can do. I even gave up my home with my husband for some of them to be there because some parents have this excuse that because of their children, they cannot work. So, you come and leave your child, you go and work. Some are with us.”
Her dedication caught the attention of a procurement officer at the University of Cape Coast, Mr. Abraham Obeng, who nominated her for the Heroes of Change awards.
The Challenged Children Foundation, operates without external funding, relying on her family’s limited resources and donations from friends and local church members.
Mrs. Adom appealed to benevolent organizations to extend their support to the foundation either in cash or kind.
“Now, the major challenge that we face is the lack of resources. We don’t have much resources, especially in the home. We have specially made chairs for these children and things that they have to learn with. Also, we want to fence the premises. Even though it’s a temporary place, we are hoping for a bigger place, a classroom, a physiotherapy centre and other things that will help these children in the near future. But the immediate one is we need a fence.”
Mrs. Adom extended her gratitude to her husband, caregivers, and community members who have stood by her side through the years.
As Ghana continues to grapple with accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities, Mrs. Adom’s story serves as a shining example of how community-led action can make a lasting difference.
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Source: Afote Asomdwoe Laryea/ATLFMNEWS
