Free Wheelchair Mission Announces Four Containers of Wheelchairs Arrived for Bangladesh

Irvine, CA, June 10, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Recently four containers (2200 individual units) of Free Wheelchair Mission’s wheelchairs arrived in Bangladesh. Since 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) has provided more than 753,000 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities living in poverty in 91 countries around the globe. Free Wheelchair Mission performs extensive service throughout Asia with nearly 54% of their wheelchairs being sent to the region since inception. The four containers of wheelchairs to Bangladesh were a mixed order of FWM’s GEN_1 and GEN_2 wheelchairs. FWM’s GEN_1 wheelchair combines the durability if a resin lawn chair with the strength of a custom steel frame, all tucked into a sturdy pair of mountain bike tires. GEN_2 is the latest evolution of the organization’s wheelchair concept featuring additional adjustment points and sizing options for users requiring augmented postural support. It received FDA clearance in March 2012 putting it on par with any product sold in the United States.

Living conditions in Bangladesh are difficult, with approximately 31% of the population living below the poverty line and twenty-six percent of the population are undernourished. It is estimated that 14% of those living in Bangladesh have some form of disability with most unable to obtain a mobility aid. By partnering with a local organization Free Wheelchair supports the efforts to serve the population of Bangladesh. Karmirhath Hospital has been partnering with FWM since 2006 and has received over 15,000 wheelchairs. “We feel great about partnering with Karmirhath Hospital: they demonstrate a strong commitment to helping other medical facilities across their country,” Executive Director of FMM, Reed Hartley, said. The mission of Karmirhath is to raise the socioeconomic status of the poor, downtrodden and less privileged people in society by providing them affordable health care, mobility to those living with disabilities and training to the needy to save them from social injustice. www.karmirhath.org.bd

About Free Wheelchair Mission: Free Wheelchair Mission is a humanitarian, faith-based 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to “provide the transforming gift of mobility to the impoverished disabled in developing countries, as motivated by Jesus Christ.” Wheelchairs are distributed fully-assembled free of charge to recipients and are given regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnicity. They provide not only mobility, but share the gifts of dignity, independence and hope. www.freewheelchairmission.org