The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) receives 180 wheelchairs today for distribution to health facilities across the country and also individuals with difficulties of walking due to illness, injury and problems related to old age or disability.
Thanks to the generous hearts of the Buddha’s Light International Association of Solomon Islands in conjunction with the Buddha’s light International Association of Queensland, the Loving Care Group and the Fo Guang Shan Compassion Foundation, that made the donation through the Malaysian Honorary Consulate Office in Honiara.
In receiving the wheel chairs, Health Minister Hon. Dr Culwick Togamana highlighted the importance of wheel chairs. “Wheelchairs contribute significantly to functions of any health facilities in enhancing movement such as patient transfers and mobilization of patients in the hospital and clinics. In fact, this is part of the Ministry’s direction towards achieving its Role Delineation Policy in the implementation of the Solomon Islands Rehabilitation Strategic Plan in accessing rehabilitation services in terms of wheel chairs at the various levels of health care services”, explained Dr Togamana.
He added at household and community levels, wheel chairs play great deal in improving quality of life. As I speak, there is a request from one of my constituents for me to purchase his wheel chair and though i asked how he would be using it at his village, he insisted that he gets one as it will greatly assist him to participate in family and community activities. This goes to show the importance of wheel chairs”, stated Dr Togamana.
“So thank you Buddha’s Light International Association of Solomon Islands and Queensland, The Loving Care Group and the Fo Guang Shan Compassion Foundation that made the donation and the Malaysia Honorary Consulate for facilitating the acquiring, shipment and delivery and handing over of the wheel chairs”, stated Dr Togamana.
The Minister also calls for greater care for wheel chairs across the country both within health facilities and at homes while urging health care workers to support awareness to wheel chair users on how to use the chairs properly to ensure that they remain functional for next user.
His Excellency Hii Yii Ging Honorary Consul – General of Malaysia to Solomon Islands in his welcome remarks welcomed attendees on behalf of the donors of the wheel chairs while providing brief about the Buddha’s Light International Association.
“Founded in Taiwan in 1992 under the guidance of Venerable Master Hsing-Yun, the association has grown to be a global association encompassing over 150 branches worldwide and have only in August this year opened its Solomon Islands branch. The association strives to propagate the principles, of humanistic Buddhism throughout the world and benefit societies through serving all beings, cultivating purity in hearts and minds, and engaging in cultural educational, and charitable activities within the communities”,
“The Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland (BLIAQ) The Loving Care Group are unwavering in their dedication to volunteer work, aid and relief and philanthropy. The Fo Guang Shan Compassion Foundation is a charity arm of the Buddha’s Light Order who assist the poor, sick and homeless by providing medical care and facilities at the main monastery and to remote villages”, explained Honorary Consul Hii Yii Ging.
He said that by their joint efforts they are truly honoured to support the health sector in the Solomon Islands with the gift of 180 units of wheelchairs.
“ We look forward to future opportunities to embody the Buddha’s Light core values of the four giving’s; give confidence, give joy, give hope and give convenience to other” added Mr. Hii Yii Ging.
This is not the first of such donation by the group. In 2019, they donated 90 wheel chairs.
In attendance at the event was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hon. Jeremy Manele, Health Permanent Secretary, Health Deputy Secretary Health Improvement, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Superintendent of the National Referral Hospital, Provincial Health Directors for Honiara City Council and Guadalcanal Province and staff of the MHMS Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Division and the Malaysia Consulate Office.
-Joint Media Release from MHMS and Malaysia Consulate
