CityNews Press Release – The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGP), has provided funds amounting to 2,981,300 baht for “the Project for the Improvement of a Rehabilitation System of Disabled Patients in McKean Rehabilitation Center in Muang District, Chiang Mai Province”. On 7 October, 2015, Mr. Shinya Aoki, Consul-General of Japan in Chiang Mai and Ms. Achara Chienvichai, Acting Director of the McKean Rehabilitation Center, were present at the hand-over ceremony of a high-roof type van with wheelchair elevator and rehabilitation devices at McKean Rehabilitation Center in Chiang Mai.
McKean Rehabilitation Center was originally established as a center for leprosy sufferers by Dr. James McKean on Kho Klang, an island in the Ping River. In 1908 the center received government approval as a medical institution for leprosy sufferers. After specific medicines for leprosy were developed and the government had improved the care for leprosy sufferers, the center changed its management policy to provide care not only for leprosy sufferers but also for physically disabled persons such as polio patients, multiple Sclerosis patients and those who suffer accidental injury etc..
The center has provided various kinds of voluntary support for the independent living of persons with disabilities, such as rehabilitation to recover physical functions, to develop, produce and provide prosthetic devices suitable for the disabilities of each person, and employment support in cooperation with government sectors. These activities to promote the independent living of persons with disabilities contributes to improve their quality of life as well as to reduce the burden on their families. However the center has insufficient budget to renew aging rehabilitation devices and vehicles because most of the rehabilitation section’s income comes from donations.
In response to a request from the McKean Rehabilitation Center, the Government of Japan bore the costs of purchasing a high-roof type van with wheelchair elevator and rehabilitation devices. It is expected that this support will contribute to ensuring the improvement of the rehabilitation system in the center as well as support for the independent living of persons with disabilities and the maintenance of quality of life in the aging society in Chiang Mai City and the nearby area.
[For more information]
Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai
Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGP)
Tel: 053-203-367 / Fax: 053-203-373 / Email: [email protected]