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Ministry of Social Affairs Produces 590 Sophisticated Wheelchairs

Ministry of Social Affairs Produces 590 Sophisticated Wheelchairs
Writer :
Dian Catur
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana

JAKARTA (3 October 2023) – Ministry of Social Affairs has assembled 590 wheelchairs for the safety and comfort of persons with disabilities.  This effort is a form of implementation of ASEAN Enabling Masterplan (AEM) which will be discussed at the ASEAN High Level Forum (AHLF) on Enabling Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025 on 10-12 October 2023 in Makassar.

Wheelchair production is one of the Ministry of Social Affairs' concrete steps to expand accessibility, which is one of the principles of fulfilling the basic rights of persons with disabilities promoted by AEM.  Apart from that, the production of wheelchairs also opens up employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, because the assembly process is carried out by trained persons with disabilities.

Integrated Center “Prof. Dr.  Soeharso" produces three types of wheelchairs.  "The design of the wheelchair was also made taking into account the safety and comfort of the user," said the instructor skilled in assembling wheelchairs at Soeharso Center Solo, Muchtar Kusuma.

In detail, Soeharso center has prepared 100 units of multi-purpose wheelchairs, 300 units of adaptive wheelchairs and 190 units of electric wheelchairs.  These three types of wheelchairs have different functions and users. Multipurpose wheelchairs are intended for persons with paraplegia, poliomyelitis of both limbs and diplegia cerebral palsy.

 "This type of wheelchair provides a wide range of mobility, provides more safety, and is easy to travel with because it can be folded," said Muchtar.  Multipurpose wheelchairs are equipped with a hydraulic system that can move the backrest, so that it can support the user in a standing position.

Besides that, this wheelchair can also be used for physiotherapy, especially training the endurance of the leg muscles and training stiff legs so that they can gradually straighten.  The next wheelchair is an adaptive wheelchair which is designed so that users can do many activities for a long time.

This wheelchair, equipped with head and body support, can be used by persons with severe cerebral palsy (CP) and hydrocephalus, so it is often called a CP Wheelchair.  Aspects of user safety and comfort are very much considered when assembling this wheelchair.

"In addition to supporting the body, the backrest level can also be adjusted so that the user can sit or lie down.  "There is also a small table for placing food or other items that persons with disabilities might need," Muchtar added.

Electric Wheelchair
The next breakthrough is an electric wheelchair which provides easy mobility for users.  This wheelchair is equipped with a lever that functions as a clutch to release and link the wheels to the drive motor.

According to Muchtar, the assembly which started in 2019 did not immediately run smoothly.  A series of trials were carried out at the Center to see the prospects for producing wheelchairs for persons with disabilities, especially for Center residents.

"The start of assembling wheel chairs was in 2019, but only then was the process of exploring the possibility of persons with disabilities, especially those at Balai (currently Centers) being able to be empowered to assemble wheelchairs," said Muchtar.

Muchtar explained that assembly training for persons with disabilities began in 2020, until finally Center began producing three types of wheelchairs in 2021 and has been able to assemble 590 sophisticated wheelchairs to date.

"In 2020 we started training several persons with physical disabilities at the Center to assemble wheelchairs, until finally in 2021 the Center started producing three types of wheelchairs, which until now produced the same number of wheelchairs as yesterday," he added.

Soeharso Center will later display a multi-purpose wheelchair assembled by a resident at the Asean High Level Forum (AHLF) on Enabling Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025 which will be held in Makassar on 10 – 12 October 2023.
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