ILOILO – Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in this province will be provided with wheelchairs and assistive devices.
A memorandum of agreement for the 800 wheelchairs and 834 assistive devices was signed between Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and the non-government organization (NGO) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Ang tinutuyo gid sang aton partner nga mabuligan kag ma-improve ang way of living sang aton PWDs and senior citizens, indi nga ma-further hamper ang ila condition,” said Ann Rapunzel “Rara” Ganzon, Technical Assistant Division Chief, Social Welfare Officer IV, and spokesperson of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
With this, the PSWDO will hold a training for wheelchair and assistive device assessors from Nov. 13 to 15.
How Important is the Training of Assessors?
Ganzon explained that assessors must be trained to ensure appropriate devices are provided to recipients.
“Lain gid kon tagsa-tagsa ka mga banwa may ila gid nga assessor trained and certified to assess those requesting mobility devices,” she said.
Data from PSWDO showed that out of 43 local government units (LGUs) in the province, only more or less 15 LGUs have certified assessors.
“We learned in the past few years nga nagahulam-hulam lang ang mga banwa sang assessors. So, kon wala ka assessors ti you’re left behind. But now ginatinguhaan gid naton nga i-train ang assessors sang tagsa ka mga banwa, so all 43 LGUs have assessors na,” Ganzon added.
Aside from this, there will be a prosthetic measurement at the Iloilo provincial capitol lobby on Nov. 17.
Around 130 recipients may avail of prosthetic devices.
The Rotary Club Iloilo South and their partner doctors from the Rotary of India will be in Iloilo to spearhead the activity.
Defensor serves as an honorary member of the Rotary of India./PN
