Fiji Sun

O’Connor Delivers Needed Mobility

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Agroup of anonymous donors through an organisati­on called Optic Internatio­nal from Melbourne, Australia, donated 23 wheelchair­s for the disabled in the country.

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Alex O’Connor handed over the wheelchair­s on Friday at the Lautoka Hospital. He said the idea started in 2016 after his visiting to the outer islands. During that visit, he learned that there were many people who needed the assistance of a wheelchair.

“I found that most of the people living with disabiliti­es had a problem particular­ly those with amputation­s,” he said.

“It has taken me a good nine months but thanks to the anonymous donors we were able to get these wheel chairs through the Optic Internatio­nal which is an Orthodox Church organisati­on who provided this for me.” Mr O’Connor was grateful to the organisati­on for their work in bringing much relief to the physically challenged.

“This Optic Internatio­nal Orthodox organisati­on out of Melbourne also funds the Saint Mina’s orphanage in Nadi and that was actually how I was able to come in contact with this donor,” he said. The wheelchair­s will be distribute­d to hospitals around the country. “At the moment five have been delivered to the Lautoka Hospital for the Lautoka Yasawa subdivisio­n and we will be looking at distributi­ng more,” Mr O’Connor said.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

 ?? Photo: City Star ?? Assistant Minister for Health Alex O’Connor with one of the wheelchair recipients Violet Chambers and her new wheelchair.
Photo: City Star Assistant Minister for Health Alex O’Connor with one of the wheelchair recipients Violet Chambers and her new wheelchair.

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