Medical and mobility aid distribution in Latin America

Social assistance initiatives in Mexico and Chile continue to focus on the distribution of medical and mobility aids to vulnerable populations.

In Mexico, various programs and organizations have provided orthopedic equipment, hearing aids, and glasses. In Chihuahua, an 870,000 peso investment, split between the DIF Estatal and Fundación Telmex-Telcel, facilitated the distribution of hearing aids to 110 beneficiaries, following a period where over 2,700 hearing aids and nearly 2,000 pairs of glasses were distributed across the state. In Culiacán, local authorities distributed 15 wheelchairs, four canes, and a walker. In Saltillo, Coahuila, a donation from OXXO valued at 490,000 pesos provided orthopedic devices to improve local mobility.

In Kanasín, the municipal DIF distributed wheelchairs to 40 beneficiaries, including elderly residents like 71-year-old Manuelita Aguilar Kau. Raquel Balam Rocha de Bojórquez, president of the Kanasín DIF, stated these resources aim to improve ‘autonomy, dignity, and social integration’. Further efforts in Coahuila saw the DIF Coahuila deliver 175 functional supports, such as bath chairs and wheelchairs, in the La Laguna region. In Ixhuatlán del Café, the municipal DIF provided 15 functional supports and food packages to 23 beneficiaries.

In Chile, the focus has highlighted the personal impact of disability support, specifically regarding the long-term challenges faced by caregivers. One instance involved Clara Araya Cornejo, who spent 32 years caring for her son, Darío, after he suffered neonatal asphyxia. After years of advocacy, Darío received a specialized wheelchair, illustrating the physical and economic toll on caregivers who often rely on multiple pensions to support their households.