Disability centre gets devices

By KARI TOTONA
PERSONS with disability (PWD) in Port Moresby received assistive devices ranging from waterbeds, wheelchair cushions, hearing aids, paramedics, water proof beds and aluminum crutches that were made available by the National Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (NOPS) through a K100,000 Department of Health grant.
NOPS manager Dr Rajesh Nanda was at hand to distribute the assistive devices worth a total of K87,000.
He said wheelchairs were also available but PWD had to visit NOPS to get the right measurement before distribution. Other centres should expect theirs by the end of next month. 
Chairman of the National Board of Disabled Persons (NBDP) Brown Kapi acknowledged families of PWD from the Motuan villages of Tubusereia, Pari and city residents for attending the event at the PNG Rehabilitation Centre in Hohola yesterday.
Kapi said he was pleased with NBDP arrangements with the coordinated efforts of 28 other affiliated centres in improving the lives of PWD.
“Since I joined NBDP, we made it our core business to improve lives of persons with disabilities by supporting and delivering assistive devices,” he said.
He added that as long as he was chairman, he would continue to deliver policies, plans and initiate more programmes as such.
“We have the ability to demonstrate the same level of responsibility as any able bodied person; we will fight for our rights at the government level,” he said when referring to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
It is understood that government had endorsed the UNCRPD and Kapi hoped that Minister for Foreign Affairs Don Polye would bring this as a priority to parliament.
Meanwhile, Charles Kaprangi, a representative from the health department, said under the National health plan 2011-20, it was committed to support and included PWD.
“No one knows the hardships faced daily by PWD and it is a blessing to see the hard working team from NBDP face the challenges of the day,” he said.