Cops seeking help to buy wheelchair for disabled teen

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A GROUP of police officers are seeking help to buy a wheelchair for a disabled teenager they drive past almost every day on their way to work.
The 12 officers led by Sgt John Bain from the McGregor police barracks in Port Moresby are serving in Finschhafen, Morobe.
They see 18-year-old Tita Nogang daily moving about on his own by crawling and want to buy him a wheelchair.
Bain said Nogang was from Bugaim village in the Yabim-Mape local level government area.
He is the second eldest in a family of five.
Nogang uses his right hand to move around.
“On fine days he moves around on his own but when it’s wet and slippery, he is assisted by his mother who is in her 50s,” Bain said.
“His father died years back. His mother is taking care of the family on her own.
“When we arrived in the district, for several weeks we have been driving past Tita who always greets us enthusiastically.
“He always has a smile on his face.
“When we are able to, we assist the family with food.”
The eldest girl in the family is married and lives in the village.
The second sister is in Grade 10 at Dregerhafen Secondary School.
The two youngest are at home.
Their mum Marengo Joseph told the officers that Tita used to have a wheelchair when he was young but is now too small for him. Bain said his team was appealing to businesses in Lae to assist them in buying a wheelchair for Tita.
“We are willing to pay for the wheelchair and want someone to direct us to the right people to buy it.”