Belizeans in Need Receive Free Wheelchairs from Red Cross

The Belize Red Cross wrapped up a two-day wheelchair clinic in Belize City this week. Partnering with international volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the program assessed and provided nineteen Belizeans with custom-built wheelchairs to meet their individual needs. Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Eighty-one-year-old Carrie Moguel, who suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis, received a brand-new wheelchair from the Belize Red Cross today, replacing her old, worn-out chair and bringing her great joy.

 

Carrie Moguel, Wheelchair Recipient

“Very comfortable.  Very comfortable. And it helps me to get the one that I had. I get around with it a lot. And now this will be better because as a smoother ride.”

 

The wheelchair clinic, hosted with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been partnering with the Belize Red Cross since 2019. The nationwide program trains volunteers to custom-build chairs for individual needs, says volunteer Dan Mills.

 

Dan Mills, Physical Therapist, LDS Charities 

“These are to standards that are international standards, which is a great thing for Belize because it allows the trainees to be at a high level to be able to figure out what the abilities are for the wheelchair user and to be very specific about what they can do and what they can’t do. Because the way the chair can be prescribed and built can be completely customized to the individual based on what their challenges are and what their limitations are. Whether they’ve had a stroke or they’ve had a spinal cord injury, or they’re frail or elderly,  or sometimes like this woman that we just interviewed have another unique orthopedic diagnosis.”

 

Not only are volunteers trained to build wheelchairs, but they are also taught how to assess recipients to ensure that they are able to move safely in it. Moguel commends the team for their service.

 

Carrie Moguel

“I would like to come every day. Everybody’s. So nice. So very nice. I’m very happy. I am pleased. I am satisfied. I would really want to come every day.”

 

To ensure each recipient’s safety, they must meet a criterion before they can be given a wheelchair. Monica Heredia-Hernandez, tells us how they are assessed.

 

Monica Heredia-Hernandez, Youth Development Manager, Belize Red Cross

“They have to be able to sit at a ninety degree angle, and what that means is sit up independently without any back support. They must not have any recent bedsores or if they had one, it has to be dry. They have to have bladder and bowel control movement. And we have another round of assessments that we do to see if they’re qualified for a chair. And the reason why we do this is because all wheelchairs are different. Just like our shoes are different. And if you require something special and we don’t have it, we could cause more harm than good if we give you the wrong wheelchair.”

 

The chairs are built to last and are made with materials that can be found in Belize should any repairs become necessary. According to Moguel, regaining her freedom to move has been a great relief.

 

Carrie Moguel

“I have been needing one for a long time. I am so grateful to be here, so grateful, so thankful to be here getting this wheelchair. It really means a lot to me. It means a lot to me. I’m very grateful.”

 

The Belize Red Cross also offers mobility aids to those in need such as crutches, canes and walkers and are available countrywide to all Belizeans. Britney Gordon for News Five.