News Release

LDS Charities and Ghana Health Service Provide Wheelchairs to Those in Need
 

LDS Charities and Ghana Health Service recently conducted free week-long medical training to assist clinicians and technicians in Ghana to provide properly-fitted wheelchairs to people with mobility impairments. Needy recipients received an appropriate manual wheelchair, hand-powered trike, or walking aid, consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

 

Prosthetic and orthotic centers working under Ghana Health Service, sent a total of 27 clinicians and technicians to the five-day event. The training was performed by Demoine and Joyce Findlay from Canada who are Wheelchair Specialists with LDS Charities. Participants came from Accra, Cape Coast, Tema, Sandema, Volta, and Hohoe. After the training, twenty recipients were assessed and individually fitted for a new wheelchair, at no cost to them.

Moi Akotey Brown received one of the new wheelchairs, “I now have a job and can earn money to care for my daughter.” He is currently employed as a currency exchanger (bills to coins) at Kaneshie Market. As a single parent, he is grateful for the efforts to help him improve his life situation, “My deepest thank you Ghana Health and LDS Charities for helping me.”

According to the World Health Organization, “The wheelchair is the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing personal mobility, which is a precondition for enjoying human rights and living in dignity and assists people with disabilities to become more productive members of their communities. For many people, an appropriate, well-designed and well-fitted wheelchair can be the first step towards inclusion and participation in society. When the need is not met, people with disabilities are isolated and do not have access to the same opportunities as others within their own communities.”

Michael Laryea travels long distances each day selling batik fabric. His only means of transportation is his wheelchair. Since receiving his new hand driven device, he says he could not image managing life without it.

Another recipient, David Akoto Lartey said, “I will never sell my wheelchair for anything. It has given me life, and I am a man now.”

   

To date, LDS Charities has provided 4375 wheel chairs and 1055 mobility aids to those in need throughout Ghana. As the humanitarian arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the mission of LDS Charities is to relieve suffering throughout the world. LDS Charities and Ghana Health Service look forward to a long-term relationship to continue working to achieving that goal.  

 

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