In continuing to try and meet the needs of the disabled in the Solomon Islands, I found an article I believe was published in the Solomon Star newspaper in June 2018.
The contents of the article brought some fresh hope to my efforts to be of help, and I will quote the piece.
“It always been a challenge for most amputees in the country for not having a prosthetic limb and this has put them in an awkward situation most of the time.
The challenges remain for years due to lack of materials to produce them.
But Fletcher Kwaimani Construction Company has seen this great need and without any delay, it stepped in to help.
Fletcher Kwaimani Construction Company had donated100 kg cement towards the production of limbs.
Mr. Corey Chapman donated the much-needed materials on behalf of the company.
Mr. Chapman emphasised how important such materials are for those people who lost their limbs.
Dr Alex Bradley Munamua within the orthopedic department at the National Referral Hospital said life is motion, motion is life, this is very true when an amputee looks back at his life and down at his feet which is no longer there.
He said most amputees in the country do not have a prosthetic limb for the last five years which is cumbersome and mind wrecking.
“A visit from the LDS American Team to Honiara has not only thrown in the wheels for mobilisation but added more quality to these people’s life.”
He explained the visit was only a country assessment to gauge how Solomon Islands will have interest and see if such a program is appropriate.
Dr. Munamua revealed that more than 70 amputees need a prosthetic device every year in the country.
“Running such a program takes a team of people to achieve a single prosthesis, since the process involves the surgeon who does the surgery to the nurses, down to the physiotherapist, prosthetist and finally to the gait trainers,” he elaborated.
Within the last 10 days a total of nine walking prosthetic limbs have been produced.
He said lack of materials would have prevented these limbs from being produced hadn’t it been for a generous donation of 100 kg cement from the Fletcher Kwaimani Construction Company.
He revealed that the Ministry’s procurement along with the National Referral Hospital just do not have the capacity to purchase cement, Fibreglass resin and even timber to make crutches.
End of quote.
LDS I understood referred to the Church of Latter Day Saints, a charity based in Utah in the United States, and I question what resulted from the country assessment the LDS charity came to the Solomon Islands to determine.
Would it be possible to find out and to see whether the LDS charity could help, at least with giving wheel chairs to the physically handicapped in the Solomon Islands, including those at the NRH needing wheel chairs having undergone surgery?
I have found the LDS has, part of its mission in more than 40 dependent countries the desire to give free wheel chairs, and I will quote that Mission statement.
“Our Mission
Improve mobility, health, and the educational and economic opportunities for people with physical disabilities.
Our Approach
Latter-day Saint Charities works to improve mobility, health, and the educational and economic opportunities for people with physical disabilities.
Working with local organizations, Latter-day Saint Charities improves services for persons with disabilities and provides manual wheelchairs or walking aids that are appropriate to individual needs and circumstances.
The program also organizes volunteers to train local organizations to assess individual needs and select and fit appropriate wheelchairs, trains individuals and caregivers, and provides support for repair and maintenance.
Mobility Devices
To enable mobility for each person, we provide individuals with different types of wheelchairs based on their needs.
Individual Training
People with disabilities, their families, and other caregivers are trained in wheelchair mobility, wheelchair maintenance, and the techniques needed to maintain health.
Support for Repair
We ensure that the wheelchairs will offer effective, long-term mobility by providing training and tools for repair and maintenance.”
End of quote.
Comment.
In recent weeks the USA has offered development assistance to the Solomon Islands and it might be opportune for the Solomon Islands government to sound out the prospect of the Church of Latter Day Saints aiding the Solomon’s disabled community, especially amputees and those requiring a wheel chair for mobility.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
