A donation of 30 wheelchairs has sparked excitement among individuals with physical disabilities, offering hope for improved mobility and increased access to social services.
The wheelchairs were generously donated by Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip and Ajuri county Member of Parliament, with a focus on supporting disabled youth and elderly individuals. Statistics indicate that 22.1% of the population in Lango faces difficulties in walking and climbing steps, highlighting the significant need for assistive technologies.
The donation aims to address these challenges and enhance the functioning of individuals with physical disabilities. One touching story is that of Peter Ocen and his twin brother, born without disabilities in 2009. However, an unforeseen event later in life left both brothers simultaneously crippled. Peter shared their experience.
“We were going to Te-owelo primary school where there was a celebration. One of us was leading the way but he fell and I followed, then our legs started paining, and in the morning we could not walk up to now.” Unfortunately, the twins had to drop out of school because their mother, Silvia Adongo, was unable to carry them to school daily.
The donation of wheelchairs provides a glimmer of hope for individuals like Ocen and his brother, as well as others like Walter Ochero, a youth representative from Ocokober parish in Adwir sub-county, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to access computer training sessions in Alebtong town.
Ochero emphasized the need for tricycles and improved infrastructure to further ease mobility, echoing the sentiments of many others facing similar challenges.
The demand for assistive devices in Uganda is substantial, standing at 35.5%, with only 14.5% of the population having access to such devices, leaving a significant gap of 21%. Denis Hamson Obua, during the wheelchair handover, shared his observations of persons with disabilities struggling to participate in the 2021 general elections. He assured the community that efforts are underway to address the growing need for assistive devices.
Obua cautioned the beneficiaries against misusing the wheelchairs, emphasizing their high value and the expense involved in their acquisition.
Local leaders, including Dorcus Acen, the Alebtong district woman MP, and Francis Ogwang, the chairperson LC III of Adwir sub-county, acknowledged the donation as a significant relief for parents of disabled children and caretakers of the elderly.
It’s worth noting that last year, the Ministry of Health initiated the distribution of assistive health devices to health facilities in Lango as part of a comprehensive five-year program addressing the rising need for physical rehabilitation services in low and middle-income countries.
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