RESIDENTS of Makambako Town Council have been urged to dedicate their time, resources, and compassion to supporting children with special needs, including orphans and children with disabilities, both in care centres and home settings.

The call was made yesterday by Mlowa Ward Councillor Odilo Fute during a donation event held at Idofi Primary School, which serves children with special needs. The donated items—valued at over1.8m—included diapers, sugar, powdered soap, juice, buckets, bins, footballs and other hygiene supplies.

Fute encouraged greater community involvement in social support initiatives, describing such efforts as vital to building a compassionate and inclusive society. He also announced that two staff members from the Medical Stores Department (MSD) branch in Idofi had volunteered to cover the salary of the school cook for the next six months.

Idofi Primary School Headteacher Rajab Mlali expressed deep gratitude for the support, highlighting ongoing shortages of essential items such as diapers and cleaning supplies.Stanley Mfuse, one of the donors, emphasized that people with special needs face numerous challenges and stressed the importance of collective responsibility in supporting them. Echoing this sentiment, Mlowa Ward resident Joctan Mangililwe urged the broader community to actively participate in efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable groups.