TIKA donates equipment to aid people with disabilities in Uganda

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated modern wheelchairs and canes to People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Wakiso in central Uganda to ease their mobility.

The group also donated sunscreen lotion to protect those with albinism from the harmful rays of the sun.

“Today, we donated 125 wheelchairs, 200 white canes, 400 sunscreen lotions to disabled persons to facilitate their integration into their societies and start a new chapter with assistive equipment to ease their hardships,” said Omer Aykon, coordinator of TIKA in Uganda.

Aykon said Turks will continue to support disabled people.

The equipment was handed over at a ceremony at Wakiso district headquarters. District Chairperson Matiya Lwanga Bwanika hailed TIKA's efforts to help people living with disabilities and said such support is required throughout the country.

“Access to assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, white canes, among others, remains a big challenge for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The donation is timely and will enable the less privileged PWDs in the community to easily access rehabilitative health care services,” Byamukama Alfred, the deputy Chief Administrative officer for Wakiso district, told Anadolu Agency.

Uganda's Health Ministry launched a nationwide program in 2022 to donate wheelchairs and assistive devices for the disabled.

Turkish Ambassador to Uganda Fikret Kerem Alp recently delivered wheelchairs to Mbuya, a Kampala suburb, to enable those with physical disabilities to move freely without burdening others.

The wheelchairs were a donation from Turkish artist and philanthropist Berfin Uluman.

About 12.4% of the Ugandan population lives with some form of disability but just 2% have access to assistive technology services, according to the 2014 population and housing census report.​​​​​​​