SILOAM – This Monday, February 21, Siloam hospital began with its wheelchair retrieval, information and repairs campaign, a provincial campaign initiated by the Department of Health and Social Development to inform the public about accessing and maintaining wheelchairs.

According to the hospital’s Chief Community Liaison Officer, Mr Kutelani Sigidi, another purpose of the campaign is to determine the appropriate wheelchair backlog. Sigidi further revealed that wheelchairs, which are redundant in the community would also be retrieved during the campaign that would last until March 11.

Sigidi said all that is needed by the hospital task team is co-operation by all community stakeholders in order to make the project a reality and a success. He said that they are expecting overwhelming support from the traditional leaders in terms of assisting them with lists of all individuals having wheelchairs or in need of a chair on wheels, while clinics are expected to play a vital role in ensuring the success of the project.

“A task team will be visiting all clinics which fall under the area serviced by Siloam Hospital. I am of the view that this project would reflect a clear picture on the wheelchair backlog across the province and provide data to plan for repairs of wheelchairs and provisioning of wheelchairs in the Limpopo Province,” he said.