“Imagine getting out of your car to be wheeled into the hospital in an emergency situation. You are in pain and you need immediate care. Then you see the wheelchair being wheeled out to get you. What would you think if it were the one in the picture?” Suzi Stephens, Medical Director for the Malawi Project poses the question then continues: “If you are in Malawi you are not going to be surprised by what you see. In fact, you may be a bit surprised if there is any wheelchair at all. Large numbers of patients must walk themselves into the hospital no matter how serious their need for a wheelchair.”
In recent years a joint program between the Malawi Project, Free Wheelchair Mission in California, and the Namikango Mission in Thondwe, Malawi has made possible the delivery and distribution of over 3,500 wheelchairs. Free Wheelchair Mission makes the wheelchairs available free of charge in shipments of approximately 550 all terrain wheelchairs. The Malawi Project shares a portion of the shipping cost, and the Namikango Mission handles distribution through various Malawi groups and organizations in all three regions of the nation.
“You can imagine the need for wheelchairs for poor individuals, especially in the villages, when even many medical facilities have nothing better than the wheelchair pictured,” notes Scott Gordon, President of the Project.
A recent shipment of 550 wheelchairs was distributed in a matter of weeks, and new requests pouring into the office of Wilson Tembo at the Mission must be put on hold until another shipment of wheelchairs can be sent. Your contributions are needed to arrange another shipment. Just click the blue donate button at the top of this website.
