Sixty-three year old Jerry Daniocop of Poblacion, Dueñas, Iloilo is diabetic.
He is single with both feet amputated because of his ailment. He can walk, but his lower extremities are covered with slippers tightly tied to protect his limbs as he has no wheelchair.
On the other hand, Raymond Espadero, 13, has cerebral palsy. He spends his day feeding chickens, drawing or doodling, and playing with kids in the neighborhood.
Raymond’s mother, Imelda Hervas, said she wants her third child and only son to go to school but he is discouraged as other kids in the neighborhood tease his physical condition.
Raymond also badly wants to visit his ailing grandmother who is confined in a hospital in Guimbal. But it is difficult in terms of mobility, Imelda said.
Raymond and Manong Jerry, persons with disabilities (PWD), were among those who received wheelchairs and other assistive devices from LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the Iloilo Provincial Government 27 January 2016 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Lobby.
LDS Charities project manager George Kenneth Lee, Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Dr. Neneth Pador, Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer (PSWDO), Calinog Mayor Alex Centena and Board Member Emmanuel Gallar graced the distribution ceremony.
Manong Jerry can hardly control his tears when he delivered his message of gratitude to his donors.
“It was overwhelming,” he said in Hiligaynon. “It is a great help for all of us,” he added.
Raymond, on the other hand, was beaming. His smile was so big it was contagious. While he cannot express in words how he felt, his happiness radiated positivity and hope. With his new wheelchair, he can explore his neighborhood and make it easy for his mother to bring him anywhere.
His mom was also grateful. “Now I can bring him to his grandmother, whom he badly wants to visit,” she said.
The 62 wheelchairs, 29 crutches and other assistive devices like walkers distributed is part of the 600 wheelchairs donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Pador told The Daily Guardian.
The distribution of wheelchairs and other assistive devices is a partnership between the Iloilo Provincial Government and LDS Charities.
The province sought LDS Charities’ help last year with Dr. Pador, Dr. Banias and Vice-Governor Raul Tupas signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
Under the MOA, the province will shoulder the taxes and shipping fees of the equipment, Pador explained.
To date, the province has received a total of 300 wheelchairs, and expects to receive another 300 later this year, Pador added.
Pador said the donated wheelchairs are customized and fitted to the PWDs.
LDSC doctors trained Municipal and Provincial Social Welfare Officers, and hospital and rural health unit staff in assessing beneficiaries, which came from the province’s 42 towns and component city.
“Assessment is important. As the LDS doctors said, it is important that a wheelchair fits the client, otherwise instead of it helping them, their situation could worsen,” she stressed.
As counterpart, the beneficiaries or their families have to render 40 hours of community service in their respective barangays, Pador said.
“This service is a very minimal requirement from the PWDs or their families. We want them to own the wheelchairs because they worked for it,” she said.
To date, LDSC and IPG have distributed about 200 wheelchairs since last year.
In his message, Lee said The Church of Jesus Christ helps others regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
“We hope the wheelchairs and other assistive devices can help you find jobs, or go to schools,” he said.
Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Charities is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.
Reprinted from The Daily Guardian