Rotary, LDS Charities Continue Wheelchair Partnership in Cebu

After a week of heavy rain, it was on a bright and sunny weekend when LDS Charities and the Rotary Club of Cebu West conducted the Wheelchair Training on October 26-27 at the Sacred Heart Center in Jakosalem Street.  Trainees were taught and certified as wheelchair technicians while dozens of physically-challenged individuals were measured and custom fitted with wheelchairs.

The wheelchair assessment and distribution program is an ongoing partnership between the Rotary Club of Cosmopolitan San Juan and LDS Charities. The two organizations aim to distribute around 5,000 wheelchairs this year. Mrs. Praxedes Tan, president of the Rotary Club said, " This is a very good partnership between the two organizations as they have very similar goals in their charitable endeavors."

Mrs. Tan also added that because of scale of the program they had to involve other Rotary Club organizations around the country. The Cebu leg of the program was organized with the Rotary Club of Cebu West.

Mr. Raymound Joshua Tan, intermediate past president of the Rotary Club of San Juan, and LDS Charities have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to distribute wheelchairs. LDS Charities will take care in training individuals to become wheelchair technicians as well as in supplying wheelchairs. Rotary will recruit individuals who will be certified as technicians and facilitate the distribution of the wheelchairs.  

LDS Charities was able to do a training in Cebu and Davao last 2011.  In partnership with Rotary, it has visited Bacolod and various parts of Luzon.  Mr. Tan further added, "I am happy with the cooperation of the two organizations.  The objective has always been to help others."

Humanitarian service missionaries, Elder Hadlock and Elder Bautista, trained 41 volunteers to correctly assess the wheelchair needs of intended recipients.  The training program included how to conduct interviews, assessment of pressure, sitting, balance, posture and other aspects to ensure that the specifications does not harm the body structure of the person.  The aim of the wheelchair assessment training is to ensure that the correct type of wheelchair with the correct measurement is provided to the person.  

Elder Bautista said that around 900,000 people in the Philippines need wheelchairs. He added, "The goal of this program is not only to distribute wheelchairs to those who can’t afford it but to also increase a PWA's self worth and self reliance."

Since its organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sought to care for the poor and needy. LDS Charities was established by the Church in 1996 to enhance Church involvement in relief and development activities throughout the world. Humanitarian projects are funded by donations from Church members and others. LDS Charities is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need.