Charities donating wheelchairs in LMICs

Most wheelchairs in LMICs are donor-funded with delivery models ranging from organizations distributing refurbished wheelchairs with limited services to mass distribution campaigns to organizations providing quality appropriate wheelchairs with services that meet WHO Guidelines. Regardless of the model, almost all chairs are delivered at little or no cost to the user.

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Table 55: Charities providing wheelchairs in LMICs

Company (Headquarters location) Description Regional presence Manufacturing sites Products
Free Wheelchair Mission (United States) Established in 2001; provides wheelchairs at no cost to people with disabilities in developing nations; has donated more than 1 million wheelchairs 94 countries (active in 34), with top-5: Viet Nam, India, China, Peru, Philippines
  • Standard
  • Urban/Semi Urban

Contract manufacturing:

Jam Metal Manufacturing Krypton, India

Hope Haven (United States) Established in 1994; work with international ministries to donate refurbished wheelchairs; has donated 126,000 wheelchairs 108 Countries
  • Refurbished wheelchair in various types
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Latter- day Saints Charities) (United States) Started Wheelchair Initiative in 2001; has donated over 700,000 wheelchairs 134 countries including the top five of China, Brazil, Türkiye, Viet Nam, Mexico
  • Active urban/ even-surface
  • Outdoor/ rough-terrain
  • Postural support
  • Standard

Contract manufacturing:

Colors Wheelchairs INTCO Medical

Wheelchairs for Kids (Australia) Started in 1988; manufacture and distribute paediatric wheelchairs; run by volunteers Distributed in over 80 countries in Asia, Africa and elsewhere
  • Postural support (paediatric)
Local workshop in Australia
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