AMERICAN-BASED Hope Haven International Ministries (HHIM), this week donated 250 specialised wheelchairs worth US$600,000 to the local disability sector.
Donations were made to three health facilities St. Joseph's Hospital, Mustard Seed Communities and the Black River Hospital.
Angela Langer, occupational and mental health therapist at Mustard Seed Communities, appealed to Food for the Poor for assistance. Food for the Poor contacted the HHIM after learning of the Christian organisation's 40-year tradition of helping disabled people.
Upon receiving the wheelchairs, Mrs. Langer remarked, "This will have a huge impact on the lives of these disabled children. Wheelchairs are their hands and feet."
HHIM collects and refurbishes used wheelchairs, before shipping and distributing them to 73 different countries.
HHIM team leader, William Cassim, said they had been visiting Jamaica every three months for the last three years since they noticed that Jamaica had a special need for such wheelchairs and accessories.
"I own a company that re-adjusts wheelchairs. And through this partnership with Food for the Poor I intend to thoroughly teach locals within the disability sector, how to re-adjust regular wheelchairs into specialised ones," he added.
The wheelchairs are special since they can be adjusted to the child's body, he added. "When he or she gets better it is adjusted accordingly", he explained.
J. C.
