Wheelchair charity spinning hope for the underprivileged

Wheelchair charity spinning hope for the underprivileged

By William Furney

JAKARTA (JP): The needs of the people are great in this vast
tropical archipelago. By now, the term "economic crisis" or
"crismon" seems so overused and worn out, it has all but lost its
meaning.

But the grim realities remain: people haven't enough food and
what little purchasing power there was, has been eaten away. The
latest World Health Organization (WHO) report puts the number of
poor, under its new yardstick of those who spend less than
US$1.50 (about Rp 13,000) per day on necessities, at over 100
million. That macabre figure is almost half the population.

When it comes to disability and handicaps, there's not much in
the way of sympathy, particularly for the needs of those who are
afflicted. They may have enough to eat but if requirements such
as wheelchairs are sought, there's very little that can be done.
The government doesn't provide any such facility.

In fact, the voice of the poor is not one that ever reaches
those in the overstuffed chairs of the House of Representatives,
for its members are, for the most part, too busy feathering their
own nests to care. Even for the fortunate few who have
wheelchairs, there's almost nowhere to go. Overburdened with a
heaving population, the Jakarta administration does almost
nothing to cater for the needs of the wheelchair-bound. Public
transport is a catastrophe, even for the able-bodied. And access
to public buildings is strictly off-limits.

The President and First Lady, political matters aside, are
both handicapped. He from a stroke and diabetes, she from a
motorcar accident, leaving her confined to a wheelchair. It would
seem an opportune time to raise the issue of disability, and
attempt to establish some of the facilities and infrastructure
that's lacking. But then, there's an almost unbreachable gap
between the elite in this country and the have-nots, who are
merely seen as a subservient irritant from the tinted panes of
luxury foreign cars.

Maz Inung, 37, was stricken with polio aged one and a half and
was a victim of a car crash 25 years ago, leaving him permanently
disabled and wheelchair-bound. His are imported from Germany at a
cost of between US$3,000 and $4,000 - some are titanium-based for
sports favorites of his, such as tennis and basketball. A
political journalist working for an Australian television station
and member of a disabled organization, Maz says Jakarta is no
place for people in wheelchairs. Through the organization, he's
targeting well-oiled politicians for cash donations. "Many feel
guilty about the money they've gotten over the years through
corruption and are willing to give some of it back."

For those who are not as fortunate as Maz, there's a dedicated
bunch at the Merdeka project at Fatmawati General Hospital, South
Jakarta. Set up with assistance from the British charity
Motivation in 1994, Merdeka (meaning Freedom) produces low-cost,
custom-made wheelchairs. It's run by a board of trustees
comprising locals and expatriates, with First Lady Sinta Nuriyah
as its patron. Motivation designs wheelchairs for developing
countries and has set up enterprises in, among other places,
Cambodia, Poland, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

A specialist at the spinal unit at Fatmawati Hospital and
Merdeka coordinator Dr. Lestaria Aryanti says people whose lower
extremities are paralyzed, stroke patients, geriatrics and
cerebral palsy victims are the main users of wheelchairs.

"It's very expensive for them to get wheelchairs, as they are
usually imported," she says adding, "We make them from local
materials, so they are cheaper."

It's not just a question of money, though. Imported
wheelchairs, and even those made here, are often too big for
Indonesians. That's why chairs made by Merdeka, the only charity
of its kind in this country, are tailor-made for each individual
and tough enough to cope with rough village terrain. "People come
to our clinic, I assess them and discuss their requirements with
the workshop," says Dr. Lestari.

For those who cannot afford the entire cost of a chair,
Merdeka will provide one for a minimum payment of 10 percent. An
adult wheelchair costs Rp 670,000, with a child's priced at Rp
710,000, both of which are cost price.

Merdeka's workshop is on the hospital grounds and produces a
maximum 25 wheelchairs per month. But with orders flowing in from
all-round the country, demand is far higher. The waiting list
runs to three months. Currently, there is a staff of six at the
workshop, three of whom are disabled. With a payroll of Rp
350,000 per employee a month, funding is a constant headache.

As the charity's fund-raiser, Danielle White, says, "I have
sleepless nights when there's not enough money to run the
workshop and there's a possibility it could close."

It takes between Rp 10 million and Rp 15 million to keep the
workshop open each month. But this British woman is due to sleep
sounder these days, as The St. George's Society, an expatriate
social club, has adopted Merdeka as its official charity. That
doesn't mean, however, that money problems are over: "I still
need help, as next year we plan to produce 40 wheelchairs a
month," says White.

Prisoners

Many of the disabled in Indonesia are virtual prisoners in
their homes. Unable to move about, they are resigned to living
their lives confined to their houses, bedridden and with no
exercise or stimulation. A lack of a network and awareness of
Merdeka adds to the problem. The charity plans to broaden its
image with regional Ministry of Health offices early next year by
producing a booklet on Merdeka.

Along with receiving financial aid from businesses, Merdeka
has also netted donations of tires and free delivery of the
wheelchairs, including from the Indonesian Army.

The majority of wheelchairs are sent to places such as
Yogyakarta, Bali and Flores.

"When you hear what a big impact the wheelchairs make when
they arrive on the islands, it makes it all worthwhile, " says
White.

"I do it because I know it makes a difference and I get a
total buzz from that ... it feels a lot more realistic than the
mollycoddled expat existence I enjoy the rest of my time."

Agus Gunawan is about to know the value of a wheelchair. The
18-year-old from Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, fell from a
three-meter-high grease pole that had various gifts perched atop
- a traditional Independence Day game - just over a month ago.
His spine was injured and doctors are doubtful the youngster will
walk again.

"I'm very sad about what happened," he said from his bed at
Fatmawati Hospital, "I need a wheelchair but my parents can only
afford to pay Rp 400,000. Thankfully, the rest is paid for by
Merdeka." And he's just one of many thousands.

If you wish to make a donation to Merdeka Wheelchairs, please
telephone 7504168.