Group receive 10 wheelchairs

TEN members of the Porgera Disabled Peoples Association (PDPA) have received wheelchairs courtesy of the National Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (NOPS).
This is an achievement for the four-year-old association which was set up to support and promote the interests of persons living with disabilities in the district.
Through the support of Barrick Niugini Limited and the operators of Porgera gold mine, the 10 members received the brand new wheelchairs from NOPS of the Department of Health through its coordinator for the Highlands and Momase regions Almah Kuambu. The wheelchairs were presented to the recipients on June 23.
Barrick executive managing director Greg Walker was present to hand over the wheelchairs.
“I am very humbled to be in the same room as you lot, Walker said.
“We live in a harsh world and Porgera valley is hard enough to live in when you are one totally able and fit person.
“I know what we give today is only a liklik samting (not much).
“ I hope this donation helps you to improve your life and make it a bit easier.
“I look forward to seeing you use the devices in the community and maybe you can tell me how much it has made your life easier,” Walker told the elated recipients.
Two days earlier, the NOPS team conducted assessments on individual recipients.
The assessment was to assemble the wheelchairs to the right specifications depending on the types of disability.
Kuambu said the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on wheelchairs had changed.
She said they had to do the physical assessments on clients to be able to prescribe the ideal wheelchair for each of them.
“Not only does it meet the mobility needs but it also has to be user-friendly for the environment which they live in,” she added.
Samuel Toke from the physiotherapy unit of the Enga Provincial Health Authority and John Lus from Callan Services in Wabag accompanied the NOPS team to Porgera.
Kuambu said the challenge with such programmes was sustainability.
She said it was very encouraging to see Barrick’s partnership with PDPA in their continous support.
The wheelchairs were part of a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints through a project funded by the Australian Government.
In 2015, the church donated 530 wheelchairs to Papua New Guinea and NOPS distributed them countrywide.
Enga received 23 of which 10 were allocated for Porgera.
At Porgera, eight wheelchairs were given to PDPA members from the special mining lease area, including Kakandaka and two to members from Kairik.