Disabled child gets wheelchair

THE Foundation for Rural Development Inc (FORD) in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, has reached out to East New Britain to assist a disabled child with a wheelchair.
Born in October 1998, Ken Mepung Jnr contracted cerebral malaria at a young age that developed into meningitis which caused him to become disabled.
He is the third child and only boy of Ken and Garlie Mepung, both from Huon Gulf in Morobe.
His father, a policeman, was posted to Porgera with the special services duty police operation to assist in maintaining the escalating law and order situation at the mining site.
While away on duty,  news reached him that his son was not well and he decided to take leave but not without a wheelchair when he left for Rabaul.
He said a newspaper article about the FORD distributing free wheelchairs had convinced him that it was the only opportunity to get the much needed equipment that could help relieve him and wife.
An emotional Mepung said he did not know how to thank FORD.
“I could not afford it, it was given to us on a golden plate,” he said.
“On behalf of  my family, we thank FORD for the assistance and hope it continues to help others in need as the organisation has the real heart for those in need despite being from other provinces.”
FORD executive director Andreas Pu’u said Mepung provided the documents to prove his son’s disability and met the cost of the freight.