Mobility for people living with disabilities in Otavi and Kombat

Thomas Garoëb’s ten years old wheelchair was replaced with a brand new one

Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust (OOCT) in collaboration with Support Ulm e.V., a donated twenty wheelchairs worth N$ 104 000 to people living with disabilities at Otavi and Kombat at the Otavi clinic on Tuesday.

The wheelchair donation is a direct result of a Technical Corporation Agreement between Support Ulm e.V., a German based non-profit organisation, OOCT and the Ministry of Health and Social Services. The agreement makes provision for medical equipment and the exchange of medical professionals, to complement the existing facilities in the country.

The Mayor of Otavi Town Council, Her Worship, Cllr. Martha Shipanga and the Otavi Constituency Councilor, Hon. Laina Nekundi, received the wheelchairs on behalf of the communities of Otavi & Kombat from Mr Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, M.D. of Ohorongo Cement.

“These wheelchairs should be distributed mainly to people living with disabilities, so that they can gain access to service and mobility that they so much yearn for. I hope that the beneficiaries will now become even more productive than before,” he said.

Some of the much needed wheelchairs were immediately distributed to some needy residents of Otavi living with disabilities.

Receiving the donation, Cllr. Shipanga applauded Ohorongo Cement for the gesture, saying that it came at the right time. Her office has been inundated with many requests, especially for wheelchairs, from people living with disabilities and their caretakers.

“Mr. Schütte, please convey our gratitude to Support Ulm e.V. and OOCT. You have set yet another good example in contributing towards the Harambee Prosperity Plan, providing for the wellbeing of our people. Please assure your partners that the wheelchairs will be put to good use,” she said.

Over the years, OOCT and Support Ulm e.V. has donated medical attire, hospital beds, walking frames, wheelchairs, blood pressure meters, to name but a few, to many hospitals countrywide.