Almost 900 people in Botswana NEED wheelchairs

Mmapula Seloche, a desperate mother caring for her disabled son (18) is finally relieved that her son, Sanae Seloche has been gifted a wheelchair by the We Care Trust.

Mmapula endured hardships whenever she had to move her son around without a wheelchair in their Block 7 community in Francistown.

Sanae cannot walk and uses his legs as hands. His hands are weak and cannot hold on to objects, however, he has mastered the art of using his legs that have a better grip to even feed himself.

“He is a very hardworking despite the disability. He even assists his siblings with house chores. He is able to fix shoes in the house as he has the skill,” Mmapula said.

The We Care Trust responded to the plight of the family after Mmapula knocked on doors for help but to no avail. Her son became the 32nd recipient of a wheelchair from the orgaisation.

Chairperson of the organisation, Modiri Lucas says it is important for people to embrace and love people living with disabilities and that no one should discriminate against them.

He called on government to celebrate Wheelchair Day ever year on March 1 to enhance more awareness about people living with disabilities.

Lucas intends filing a motion with the City of Francistown Council asking council to resolve that the Ministry of Health and Wellness start registration and monitoring of wheelchairs and walking sticks.

It is encouraged that when a patient is no longer using these he or she can return them to the Government so that they benefit other patients in need.

Lucas’s motivation is necessitated by the fact that Government has spent a lot of money buying wheelchairs that end up being thrown away by patients who got healed.

According to the Assistant Minister of Health, Sethomo Lelatisitswe, statistics shows that there are currently 872 people in need of wheelchairs across the county. This can be avoided if wheelchairs are recycled and reused by other patients.