Wheelchairs roll in Hardap
Standing, from the left are the Hardap Regional Health Director, Puumue Katjiuontjo, Hon. Barakias Namwandi, Mariental Urban Constituency, Hon. Riaan McNab, Rehoboth Rural Constituency, and Carl Christians from the office of the Hardap Governor. Seated are Lüderitz Rotarian, Gerd Kessler, Jakobus Gamatham, first to receive a wheelchair and Seben Katjiuontjo. (Photograph by Lorato Khobetsi)
The donation was received by the Regional Health Director, Mr Puumue Katjiuontjo, the physiotherapist at the Mariental State Hospital, Vincent Chihohvu, the office of the Governor, represented by Mr Carl Christians as well as Hardap Regional Councillors and members of the Hardap disabled community. The presentation ceremony was held in Mariental over the previous weekend. The Rotary Club of Lüderitz also delivered another 16 wheelchairs to the Maltahöhe community. Speaking on behalf of the Hardap Governor, Hon. Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, her PA, Carl Christians said there are 1896 registered disabled people in the Hardap Region.
“This figure shows only people registered though we know for sure that there are many in rural areas, without proper information to register themselves, although the service are available to all three health districts,” he said. He said that the government through various policies and acts have put many instruments in place which addresses equality and the rights of persons with disabilities. “The government with all other stakeholders in the private sector and civil society will work tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities are included in all spheres of life. Donations of such magnitude are always welcome and are very much appreciated because the Ministry of Health and Social Services can not carry the weight of supplying wheelchairs to the Namibian nation all alone,” he said. Thanking the Rotary Club of Lüderitz for the donation, Chihohvu said the staff at the hospital is delighted with the donation and the help offered by the councillors as well as the Rotary Club to assist the disabled community to live a normal life and also to be able to have a comfortable life.
Former club president and Rotarian at the Rotary Club Lüderitz, Gerd Kessler said the members of the Rotary lives by its motto, “Service above self”.
He said that the Rotary gets the wheelchairs through partnerships with other Rotaries overseas. “It’s important for us to help people who need help, and we hope these wheelchairs make you all very happy,” said Kessler. The latest census data revealed that there are approximately 85,000 people living with disabilities in Namibia.
