On Monday 18 March, Permanent Secretary, Kaaro Neeti; Deputy Secretary, Tawaria Komwenga; Head of Rehabilitation, Tekoaua Tamaroa and his assistant, Akoaki Eritane received a container of 280 wheelchairs and 80 sets of crutches from LDS Charities.
LDS Charities is the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Representing LDS Charities were President and Sister Larkin of the Marshall Islands / Kiribati Mission; Dr. and Sister Saunders from the Church's Pacific Area Administration Office in New Zealand; and Elder Dan and Sister Rebecca Kitchen who serve locally in Tarawa as humanitarian missionaries.
Permanent Secretary Kaaro Neeti expressed gratitude to LDS Charities for the donation of mobility equipment to the Tungaru Hospital of Tarawa.
Tekoaua remarked how much these wheelchairs will bless the lives of people with disabilities on Tarawa and the outer islands.
He explained that each person must be assessed in order to qualify for a wheelchair.
President John Larkin inquired, “How do incapacitated people get assessed?”
Tekoaua Tamaroa and Kaaro Neeti responded that certain heath care workers service the community and will help those people.
Elder Dan Kitchen explained that 100% of LDS Charities’ funding comes from voluntary donations from Latter-day Saints and others around the world who want to help those in need.
He remarked, “We all know that Jesus Christ taught us to love others and help them, no matter what religion, and LDS Charities strives to follow His teachings.”