THE United Blind Persons of Fiji hopes to create public awareness on the rights and welfare of blind people during its White Cane awareness campaign which ends this weekend.
United Blind Persons of Fiji project officer Ruci Senikula said the main reason for the two-weeks campaign was to promote recognition and acceptance of the white cane as a symbol of mobility for blind people.
Ms Senikula said the awareness campaign was to also promote and protect the physical, moral and social well-being of blind persons.
She said the white cane awareness campaign was there to serve as a vehicle of information on the program being implemented by the government and non-government organisations that adhere to the promotion of welfare of visually impaired persons.
Josua Naulumatua, 24, said he had been using white cane all his life and saw it as an important tool.
He said it was important for the public to understand the importance of using the white cane as it helped the visually-impaired in their movement.
"Visually-impaired people hope to create more awareness on the white cane and to celebrate the white cane day more within the community. But we need the support from the people in order to make it a big event," he said.
The campaign ends on Saturday.