Tullow Ghana Limited has partnered with WalkAbout Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to execute a multi-faceted project that provides wheelchairs as part of efforts to enhance mobility for some people with mobility disabilities in the country.
Under Tullow Ghana’s ‘Share Prosperity’ initiative, the partnership will see delivery of free custom-fitted wheelchairs to selected physically challenged students from the Western Region; and the training of staff at the Orthopaedic Training Centre (OTC) in Nsawam of the Eastern Region.
An estimated 175 physically challenged individuals will receive the custom-fitted wheelchairs, while 10 staff members of the OTC will undergo rigorous training in the World Health Organisation’s approved basic wheelchair service training programme; to learn the theory and practice, as well as recent trends in the provision of orthopaedic healthcare.
The project is a collaborative and inclusive effort wherein Tullow Ghana will provide the funding and necessary national, regional and local stakeholder support and alignment; with Walkabout Foundation providing expertise, wheelchairs and training programmes; and the OTC will support with their beneficiary rehabilitation programme and physiotherapy expertise.
Announcing the partnership, deputy Managing Director for Tullow Ghana, Cynthia Lumor said: “At Tullow we believe Shared Prosperity through oil & gas can and should drive economic growth in developing economies. To promote sustainable operations, we look out for the welfare of members of our host communities, particularly students. This partnership will not only accrue to the benefit of direct recipients, but also increase local capacity in basic and rehabilitative orthopaedic service delivery. Beyond that, the life-changing effects of this intervention will impact the families and caregivers of the direct beneficiaries. We know that this can translate into economic empowerment as well”.
Representatives of WalkAbout Foundation, in their remarks, lauded Tullow Ghana for the partnership and investment into the project, adding: “This project is our way of contributing to the advancement of society, and we thank Tullow Ghana for the support to provide the training and wheelchairs to beneficiaries. Using the Wheels for Humanity’s calculator for wheelchair distributions, we estimate over 600 individuals will be positively impacted through this initiative. We are also grateful for OTC’s support with rehabilitation, which brings orthopaedic healthcare to full cycle”.
Following this announcement, Tullow Ghana and the WalkAbout Foundation will proceed with the project execution schedule, with actual distribution targetted for May 2023.
