Manual Wheelchairs - World Health Organization

38 I guIdelInes on the provIsIon of manual wheelchaIrs In less resourced settIngs
Box 2.1.
Wheelchairs changing lives …
Testimonial from a user in Cambodia
In 1982, Reth stepped on a landmine.
He later had both of his legs amputated.
He received vocational training at a Thai
refugee camp, where he stayed for
13 years. In 1993, Reth moved back
to Cambodia and was employed and
trained as a wheelchair builder in
a local wheelchair workshop. Reth
himself received a three-wheeled
active-style wheelchair and a tricycle
through the workshop.
The mobility provided by both
the wheelchair and the tricycle has
enabled Reth to work, care for his wife and
six children, and become an active campaigner against
landmines. Reth is an ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
(ICBL), an initiative that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. He has travelled the
world urging governments to make landmines history.
Reth says: “I have to admit that what happened to me, being a landmine victim, helped
me realize that life does not end in one or more difficulties. Also, through the help of so
many people around me I was able to go beyond the tragedy in my life. Now I am an
active spokesperson for ICBL. Whenever there’s an opportunity to speak about advocacy
to ban landmines, I make a sincere appeal to people and governments, asking them to
support this campaign, to give more assistance to help the victims and their families.
Also, at present I am working in the Jesuit Service Cambodia – Siem Reap team, in the
wheelchair team and outreach programmes. As of now, we are able to reach people in
testimonial
222 villages, 90 communes and 12 districts. It is not an easy job for a double amputee,
but I am happily fulfilled.”