Rotary Club of Antigua Delivers Wheelchairs

Rotary Club of Antigua Delivers Wheelchairs to Persons with Disabilities

Members of the Rotary Club of Antigua embarked on a drive to deliver wheelchairs to people with disabilities across the country who are in great need of these items.

Past President Rolston Barthley, speaking at a ceremony to officially start the distribution programme, said the Club is working from a three-page list of people in Antigua who need wheelchairs provided by ABAPD, District Health Clinics, and families and friends of persons with disabilities.

The week of August 14-20, 2005 was devoted to delivering the chairs island-wide and was in fact completed by the weekend.

The Rotarians divided themselves into four teams with two trucks assigned to each team. Members of the group, aided by district nurses, delivered the wheelchairs door-to-door.

John Fleming, 29, of Powells, one of the recipients said, “I’m feeling happy now.” He said this is the first chair he has ever received. “I use a walker but my foot movements are very slow right now. Some places are difficult for me to get to when I use the walker, so, I really need a wheelchair.”

Another recipient, Maria Gordon, 64, from T.K’s Nursing Home in Golden Grove explained how important her chair is to her. “I can’t do anything without it,” she stated.

The project was in the works for some two years, and realized success, partly through the efforts of the Canadian Rotary Club’s Wheelchair Foundation. Jim Williams of the Canadian Rotary Club offered to match up to EC$28,000.00 if the Antiguan Club could raise that amount, which it did.

Canadian Rotarians came to the island to help the Antiguan Rotarians with the distribution of the wheelchairs. In total, 280 wheelchairs were provided. Montserrat will get 25 chairs, 8 will go to Barbuda and 4 will be given to the Grenada Association.

The total cost of the project is US$25,000.