KEETMANSHOOP: More than 40 physically challenged people in the Karas Region are in need of wheelchairs according to the Keetmanshoop State Hospital.

Medical Rehabilitation Worker at the hospital, Rauna Mwashekele told Nampa in an interview Friday that 30 of the individuals in need of wheelchairs are from the Keetmanshoop District, while 19 are from the Karasburg District.

Mwashekele said she is also aware of a need for wheelchairs in the Lüderitz District, but could not provide any specific figures as to how many are needed.

She said the Ministry of Health and Social Services supplies wheelchairs to those in need, but a lack of financing for the regional health directorate means not everyone can be helped simultaneously.

Meanwhile, 23 physically challenged people from the Keetmanshoop District received assistance in the form of knee guards, stump socks and elbow crutches from the Health Ministry’s quarterly orthopedic outreach programme last week after their measurements were taken in May of this year.