Emirates Airline Foundation donates wheelchairs to health ministry |17 September 2014

The Ministry of Health has received a generous donation of 40 wheelchairs from the Emirates Airline Foundation.

The wheelchairs, which have cost US $3,815 were handed over by Denise Rassool, district manager of Emirates Seychelles, to the chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Suresh Menon.

They will be used by patients at the Rehabilitation Centre, North East Point Hospital, Seychelles Hospital and even in health centres around the country.

Present to witness the event at the Seychelles Hospital yesterday afternoon were the Minister for Health Mitcy Larue, acting principal secretary Bella Henderson, other senior health officers, staff and representatives of the Seychelles Breweries and Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.

In a short speech, Ms Rassool said she is pleased to make the donation on behalf of Emirates Foundation.

“The Emirates Airline Foundation is a non-profit charity organisation which aims to improve the quality of life of people in need, especially children, regardless of geographical, political or religious boundaries and to help them maintain or improve their human dignity,” she explained.

The donation was made under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline & Group based in Dubai.

Dr Menon thanked the Emirates Foundation for the generous donation, saying the foundation has become an active partner of the Ministry of Health in recent years. He added that the ministry continues to encourage and is happy to see the private sector continuously being engaged and provide support to its different entities.

“Today, the Health Care Agency is the proud recipient of the 40 wheelchairs from the Emirates Airline Foundation. This generous donation of wheelchairs will enhance the capacity of the Health Care Agency through rehabilitation service, to help those with poor mobility. The initiative for organisations and private businesses to use part of their corporate social responsibility in the form of donations and other support is indeed a great initiative,” he said.

Dr Menon made the most of the opportunity to also thank the Seychelles Breweries and the SCAA for their contributions towards the Ministry of Health and the Health Care Agency.  

He said over the last month, the SCAA and the Seychelles Breweries have helped with the travel of six physiotherapists to Sweden, allowing them to attend a workshop on the prevention and treatment of back injuries.

“Lower back pain is a matter of growing concern to the Health Care Agency and the general workforce nationally. It is probably one of the leading factors of absenteeism among the working population of Seychelles,” he explained and thanked the two organisations for recognising this training need for the staff.