The Malawi Cerebral Palsy Registry (MCPR) is celebrating!
In December 2023 the GLM CPR team took a trip to Malawi to help with a registration blitz taking place in remote Malawian villages. The Malawi Cerebral Palsy Registry (MCPR) and GLM CPR team ended up recruiting over 560 children with CP.
Throughout our trip, we were in awe of the incredible strength and fortitude of these children, along with their parents. In spite of adversity, these families kept a positive attitude. Nonetheless, it was clear there was a need for some fit for purpose mobility devices, to promote independence and provide dignity.
Wheelchairs for Kids (WFK) is an Australian-based not-for-profit, run entirely by volunteers. The WFKs team gladly agreed to make 300 wheelchairs for children in Malawi and by June this year, the children of Malawi were successfully fitted by the MCPR team. What an incredible outcome!
Dr Thembi, Project Lead for the MCPR team has this to say about the delivery of the
wheelchairs.
‘With hearts full of gratitude from the entire Malawi Cerebral Palsy Register (MCPR) Team, our children living with CP, and their families, I write this email to thank Global LMIC CP Register, CP Alliance and the Wheelchairs for Kids Team for firstly recognizing the need for assistive mobility devices that our children living with CP have. Secondly for entrusting us with these beautiful and strong wheelchairs suited for our terrain, the beautifully packed blankets, and teddies for our children.
The children's excitement in the photos is real and their smiles are genuine. These past two weeks have been very heartwarming for the entire MCPR Team. Malawi is very grateful, thank you very much.’
Our Thanks and Gratitude -
Special thank you to Wheelchairs For Kids for their unwavering support and goodwill toward children with Cerebral Palsy in low- and medium-income countries. Dr Thembi Katangwe Project Lead - MCPR, and the most extraordinary leader with a heart of gold. Thank you to the whole MCPR team and families involved.
MCPR is supported by an NHMRC Investigator’s grant to Prof Khandaker (ID: APP2009873, Title “A Global Program on Epidemiology, Early Detection and Intervention for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”) and CPA Research Foundation Program Grant (ID: PRG10421, Title – Global LMIC CP Register (GLM CPR): An International Multi-Centre Register of Children with Cerebral Palsy in LMICs).
If you’re interested in being involved, reach out to us at info@glmcpr.org
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