THE Wheelchair Foundation and Wine for Wheels of the United States presented 110 terrain wheelchairs to Fiji Wheel Chairs last Tuesday to the delight of local non-governmental organisations.
The wheelchair drive was part of the Vodafone World of Difference initiative undertaken by the ACATA Trust Fiji to meet the needs of the local needy.
Vodafone's media officer Ligavatu Gukisuva said Fiji Wheel Chairs based in the US responded positively to their request for more wheel chairs last year.
A statement by the Wheelchair Foundation said it was leading an international effort to create awareness on the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities.
"We distribute wheelchairs worldwide through a network of NGOs that have ongoing humanitarian relief missions in the countries of wheelchair destinations," the foundation stated.
"These distribution partners handle all aspects of the importation and distribution of the wheelchairs to children that can now go to school, adults that can now go to work and seniors that can once again become an active part of family life and society."
The foundation also stated that a wheelchair sold for much as $1700 in developing countries.
"The wheelchairs that we distribute are specifically designed for the rough conditions of developing countries," it stated.
Some features of the wheelchairs include extra heavy wheels, tyres, front casters, sealed bearings and nylon seating.
The foundation is on target to distribute one million wheelchairs in the next five years to developing countries.