VIDEO: Wheelchair donation enriches lives of immobile residents
Residents were also gifted knitted blankets and beanies.
A SIMPLE gesture that started with an individual making a sacrifice during the hard lockdown has turned into a campaign to benefit many more.
The resident, who wished to be anonymous, paid it forward and purchased a wheelchair for a bedridden senior citizen.
An olive branch was further extended on Tuesday, 10 November when 10 more wheelchairs were delivered in Wentworth and surrounding areas. This time, recipients had an added special touch with a knitted blanket and beanie each accompanying the wheelchair donation.
Supervisor of community healthcare workers (CHW) based in Wentworth Hospital, Gateway Clinic, KK Maphumulo said they are strategically placed in the area which made it easy to assist in pinpointing the residents who needed the donations most.
“We have 12 CHWs who are zoned in various parts of Wentworth. We supply the community with home-based care kits which include diapers because most bedridden patients are in need of them. We also supply them with linen savers, gloves, and sanitisers which go a long way for the person assisting a patient. This is why it was easy to point out the patients in need of wheelchairs,” he said.
Operation Sukuma Sakhe war room members Sharin Rajmin, Ramon Hunter, and executive secretary, Neil Axford together with the Gift of the Givers’ Aslam Essa braved inclement weather to make the deliveries.
“These brand new wheelchairs brings a sense of freedom and belonging to our bedridden senior citizens. They are now able to enjoy the spaces in and around their neighbourhoods. I have witnessed an improvement in many of these recipient’s physical and mental health,” said Neil.
Inspired by the campaign, Neil’s sister, Fathima Axford Walljee, motivated more members of their family to assist in the purchase of a wheelchair. She attributed the donation to her Muslim faith and said it will bring about many rewards.
“Thank you to the following families for their love and commitment to the wheelchair campaign. Idries and Fathima Axford Walljee, Tien and Charlene Axford Tran, Haroon and Taahirah Walljee, Amirah and Raheel Walljee, Rehana and Nishaad Essop, Lyle and Yanna Wyngaard, Robyn and Dale Wyngaard, Kerry and Ashlynne Axford, Amanda and Patrick Houston, Faizal, Hasina and Raeesa Ebrahim, Eleanor and Shaun Smith Dasrath,Wayne Jean Pierre, Rob, Sharon, Isabella and Gilbert Edouard-Betsy and Jennifer Pretorious. Special thanks to Engela Nortje for the beautiful blankets and beanies that each wheelchair recipient received as well,” said Neil.
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