LG announces drive to raise Sh20 million for orthopaedic rehabilitation

LG Electronics’ Mr. Choong Hak, Executive Vice President Business Support officer (left) and Mr. Taeick Son East Africa Managing Director engage Ms. Janet Reson, one of the beneficiaries of the company’s artificial limb program at P.C.E.A Kikuyu Hospital during an event to mark the 10^th anniversary of the company’s partnership with hospital. LG has announced plans to organize an annual walk starting from August, targeting to raise over Sh20Million for the hospital’s orthopaedic rehabilitation unit.

LG Electronics has announced plans to scale up its existing support to P.C.E.A Kikuyu Hospital’s orthopaedic rehabilitation unit through an annual walk to raise funds for the facility.

Starting this August, and working with P.C.E.A Kikuyu Hospital, the company will organize an annual five kilometer walk in Kikuyu targeting organizations and over 5,000 participants. The aim is to raise over Sh20 million for the hospital’s orthopaedic rehabilitation unit.

The funds will be used to equip the unit with prosthetics, pay bills for needy patients as well as create awareness on the plight of persons with physical impairments.

The unit receives over 500 cases from across the country requiring prosthetics annually but owing to the high cost of treatment, it is only about half of that number that gets support to acquire artificial limbs.

The average cost for above knee prosthesis for both adults and children is about Sh50,000 while below knee prosthesis is about Sh30,000.

Speaking during a ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the partnership between the company and the hospital, LG Electronics’ General Manager for Marketing Moses Marji spoke of the need to scale up financial support for the unit in the coming months to accommodate more people.

“We hope to use the annual walk to raise additional funding required to accommodate more patients from humble backgrounds,” said Mr Marji.

The most common causes of physical impairments include accidents and diseases.

He added: “soon, if budgets allow, we hope to expand the program beyond Kikuyu Hospital to various Level Four hospitals across the country.”

On his part, the hospital’s CEO Patrick Kimpiatu applauded LG Electronics for making the partnership work, and for its commitment in the cause that has over the years seen hundreds of people with amputated legs and arms from across the country supported to acquire artificial limbs.

“Disability from such amputations, no doubt hinders full participation in the economic and social life development of the affected. I am however glad that LG’s contribution has seen some of those people get back to playing an active role in society as contributors to the economy and lessened their burden,” said Dr Kimpiatu.