By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Oct. 7: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Parbat Gurung handed over a total of 141 sophisticated wheelchairs to the persons with physical disabilities amidst a function organised at Basundhara of Kathmandu on Wednesday.

With the financial support from Wheelchair Foundation, USA, and Tiny Share of Field Activity, USA, the Um Hong Gil Human Foundation (UHGHF) had brought altogether 240 wheelchairs to Kathmandu.

The National Disabled Fund and National Federation of the Physical Disabled-Nepal were the local partners of the wheelchair distribution programme.

Minister Gurung appreciated the donors for helping the needy people even during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also called upon UHGHF to increase its humanitarian assistance in Nepal.

He thanked the organisers for holding the ceremony by following the health safety guidelines issued by the government.

The remaining 99 wheelchairs will be donated to the needy persons in various districts, including Dolakha, according to Neelam Thapa, programme manager at UHGHF.  

Founded by renowned South Korean alpinist and philanthropist Um Hong Gil, the philanthropic organisation based in Seoul has already built 16 child-friendly and earthquake-resistant schools in 13 districts of Nepal.

Recognising his immense contribution in the country's education sector, the Government of Nepal has already granted an honorary citizenship to Um.