For years, hundreds of children with cerebral palsy (a condition that affects how a person moves and controls their muscles) in Machinga have struggled to access physiotherapy due to a critical shortage of mobility aids. Without wheelchairs, many remained confined to their homes, their conditions worsening in silence. Currently, that burden has been eased.
The Palliative Care Association of Malawi has donated 21 wheelchairs worth K8 million to children and adults with physical disabilities, addressing a long-standing challenge at Machinga District Hospital.
“We see over 1,000 patients needing physiotherapy every year, and mobility has always been a major barrier,” said Jonathan Saidi, the hospital’s rehabilitation officer. “Some never make it here simply because they have no means to move.”
The donation, made possible through Malawi Against Physical Disabilities, includes tricycles, adult wheelchairs, and children’s wheelchairs. It offers hope to families like that of Catherine Sulani, whose three-year-old child has cerebral palsy.
“I have carried my child on my back everywhere,” she said. “It made simple tasks like farming and house chores impossible. This wheelchair is a huge relief.”
Fred Chiputula, Project Director for the Palliative Care Association of Malawi, emphasized the urgent need for more support.
“These wheelchairs will change lives, but the demand is still overwhelming,” he said. “We urge well-wishers to come forward so that no child is left behind.”
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