The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints yesterday held a wheelchair programme which saw a number of persons being properly fitted for wheelchairs, and local medical physical therapists being educated and trained to appropriately assess and give the best fitting experience.
Sister Cook, who is part of Welfare Services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said 300 wheelchairs were brought in to distribute to disabled persons in Guyana. Recipients were selected by the Ptolemy Reid Centre, but also included a few persons who they knew needed wheelchairs, she said.
Normally, she said, the church would just bring the chairs and distribute them to persons, but five years ago the World Health Organisation approached the church and asked that it start properly fitting persons to wheelchairs so as to avoid injury and lifetime sores.
The church has also partnered with the Ministry of Health which will be keeping records of all wheelchairs and the church will be doing follow-ups to make sure that the chairs are working well and that persons were properly fitted.
She said it is hoped that sufficient people would be trained in Guyana so as to forego the need to bring trainers from the USA. She also added that she hopes the chairs will be a blessing.
