Parents of 31 children with disabilities in Lupembe-Mlare in Karonga District have commended Malawi Against Physical Disabilities and World Vision Malawi for conducting wheelchair mobile clinic in the area.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Ellen Chomba from Nkhomo Village, Traditional Authority Kyungu, said her son Godswill received a wheelchair during the outreach exercise.
She said since her son was born, life has been hard as she had to carry him everywhere.
Said Chomba: “My son is five years old. Therefore, life without a wheelchair was not only miserable to him, but also to me as a mother. His mobility depended on us which in turn affected household chores.
“However, with this wheelchair, it means my son will be able to move freely and go to school.”
Rumphi district Malawi Against Physical Disabilities physiotherapist Moses Munthali said it was their routine duty to carry out wheelchair outreach clinics to ascertain their road worthiness.
He said: “We normally conduct periodic wheelchair clinics to our clients and partners every three months, depending on the availability of funds.
“These clinics help us to assess conditions of our clients as well as wheelchairs either to repair or adjust them to suit the condition of clients.”
Munthali said they repaired 19 wheelchairs, issued four wheelchairs for children with disabilities and offered physiotherapy treatment to three children with disabilities.
He also said they referred three clients to Mzuzu Central Hospital for further treatment.
On his part, World Vision Karonga district programmes manager Hendrix Kalanje said they partnered Malawi Against Physical Disabilities to distribute and maintain wheelchairs for learners.
“We want to address mobility challenges that prevent learners with disabilities from attending school and actively participating in school activities,” he said.
