PEOPLE living with special needs in the Yasawa Group received a huge boost in the form of wheelchairs and crutches from the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
The mobility equipment was presented by Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa during her tour of the group.
According to a statement from the Information Department, the minister said the assistance to people with special needs would ensure they were actively involved in various activities and programs in their communities.
Mrs Vuniwaqa said the ministry identified recipients through a ground assessment carried out by the Disability Unit under the Social Welfare Department.
She told recipients and community members that Government remained committed towards empowering women, hearing their voices, reaching out to the people and also ensuring that they were informed on Government programs and initiatives.
The ministry’s outreach was made possible through the United Nations Development Programme’s Rights Empowerment And Cohesion (REACH) programme.
Two of the recipients – Nanise Droka and Salaseini Likuvesi, both 56 – said the equipment would help them perform minor household chores and allow them movement around the village.
