A container load of wheelchairs and walking aids has been gifted to Vaiola Hospital in time for Christmas. Elder ‘Aisake Tukuafu of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, handed over the equipment to Reynold ‘Ofanoa, the Deputy CEO Ministry of Health on 30 November.

The container held a total of 267 wheelchairs, 267 walking aids of different kinds including active wheelchairs, all terrain wheelchairs and rough riders. The walking aids include canes, crutches, and walkers for adults and children. The equipment goes to the Physiotherapy Department of the Ministry of Health.

The Physiotherapy Department advised the public that if you or someone you know needs a wheelchair or walking aid, these are the things that you have to do:

• Make an appointment with the Department of Physiotherapy for an assessment;
• If you need a walking aid, you will be provided with one during the assessment;
• If you need a sheelchair, you will need to come back for a second appointment to be fitted with your wheelchair.

The donation of these brand new wheelchairs and walking aids was made possible by cooperation between Motivation Australia, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints LDS and Tonga’s Ministry of Health.

Motivation Australia is a not-for-profit non-government organisation that works to increase access to mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walking aids and prosthetic limbs in low-income countries.

Since 2007, Motivation Australia has helped establish wheelchair services in the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.

It is estimated that 150,000 people in the Pacific Region need an appropriate mobility device.