Inverness Culloden Rotary has helped 200 disabled people in Zimbabwe to become more mobile.
That’s thanks to collecting and shipping wheelchairs and walking aids to Africa following repair and servicing.
The aim of the project is to get the equipment to people who would otherwise be without the help.
Inverness Culloden Rotary has teamed up with NHS Highland, Inverness Men’s Shed, Inverness Prison and the UK Charity PhysioNet, to assess thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility equipment in the Highlands that are due to be commissioned.
Inverness Culloden Rotary has helped 200 disabled people in Zimbabwe to become more mobile.
Project organiser, Derek McRae said “Inverness Culloden Rotary has been working with Yorkshire-based PhysioNet for a number of months sending equipment that is no longer used in the NHS to people in need across the globe.
“PhysioNet became aware that NHS Highland were to decommission up to 4,000 wheelchairs over the next few years and invited Rotary to become involved which we were delighted to do.
“The support received has been quite incredible.”
The club regularly collects between 30 and 40 wheelchairs from NHS Highland which can be recycled.
Inverness Culloden Rotary has been working with Yorkshire-based PhysioNet for a number of months sending equipment that is no longer used in the NHS to people in need across the globe.”
The wheelchairs are collected and their condition assessed before being stored.
Chairs which require minor maintenance are fixed by Rotarians on site, while those that require much more work are handed over to HMP Inverness where prisoners work on upgrading them.
Derek McRae said that the prisoners have done a great job, often bringing chairs that are quite badly damaged or faulty back into use. “It is wonderful to see the results,” he added.
Equipment to help children increase their mobility is restored by the Inverness Men’s Shed.
International committee chairman, John Harrison, also a member of Inverness Culloden Rotary said: “PhysoNet collects the chairs and equipment before it is shipped around the world. Thank you to everyone who has made it possible.”
Derek put out a plea for help to find more storage space for the wheelchairs.
He added: “The supply of wheelchairs has put extreme pressure on the storage area that we are fortunate to have, so would benefit from being able to use bigger premises.
“We welcome any help in this regard with interested parties by contacting me at: derek_mcrae@hotmail.com
The Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden thank all partners in this project for making this possible.”
