LOCAL and international groups have pitched in to help persons with disabilities (PWD).

The Aspen Medical of the United Arab Emirates, with the local government unit of La Trinidad, partnered with Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw to aid 100 PWD households.

La Trinidad officials, led by Mayor Romeo Salada and Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan, responded to the call for help for cash-strapped PWDs by sending vegetables as food packs.

Allad-iw said there are about 5,000 PWDs in the city who need attention and with priority needs of food and vitamins and hygiene kits.

He said support to PWD livelihood is also needed to alleviate the situation of the sector in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Households from the displaced blind masseurs, folk singers and deaf were pre-identified as beneficiaries for the program.

Food packs containing rice and goods from cash donations made by the Aspen Medical-UAE with fresh highland vegetables from La Trinidad were distributed on August 29 and September 4.

Allad-iw hopes for a third run of the program to service the PWD bedridden sector.

Gemaryle Tedson Magtalas from the Aspen Medical-UAE said the organization supports worldwide programs for communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and coordinated with nurse Red Cloud Capuyan, another UAE member from the Baguio City.

Aspen Medical is an Australian-owned and a multi-awarded institution that caters to global innovative health care solutions across diverse clients in the humanitarian, mining, oil and gas, and government sectors.