Anshan and People with Disabilities in Anshan
The city of Anshan locates in south of Liaoning Province, China. The population of the city is 3,396,000. Owning the largest steel company, Anshan used to be a city with glory and affluence in China. It was called “The Capital of Iron and Steel” of the country. But in recent years, many state-owned companies and enterprises got bankrupt or shrunk because of the change from planed-economy to market-economy. In Anshan, many people lost their jobs.
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There are about 110,000 people registered with various disabilities in Anshan. The reasons for the disabilities are mainly congenital diseases or injuries from industry or traffic. Like many other places in China, most disabled people in Anshan are living in extreme poverty. Except for those injured in working settings, most disabled people have no fixed income. They can only live on the lowest life subsidy from the government. In urban area, one can have RMB320 per month, or less than US$40; in rural area it is only RMB40 per month, or $US5. For many disabled people, the little money is their entire income.
On the other hand, most resident and public buildings in the city (or in most parts of China), have no elevator service. Most disabled people with mobility limitations have to stay at home all the time, totally isolated from society. For those with severe disabilities, they usually cannot afford to pay for somebody to take care of their daily needs. The only caregiver is their families, or aged parents in many cases.
As a result of the undeveloped national welfare system, the basic life of many people with disabilities still cannot be met. Many paralyzed people cannot afford a wheelchair and have to stay in bed all the time. Many children with hearing impairments can not afford to have a hearing aid, and therefore miss the best time of rehab training. At the same time, other problems occur along with poverty, including lack of education, rehabilitation, and health problems. Because of the expensive medical service, many disabled persons can not afford to go to hospital when they get ill. Their health continues to deteriorate. Under such circumstances, necessary functional rehabilitation is obviously a luxury for them.
In the past several years, great efforts have been made by Chinese government and Chinese Disabled People’s Federation to help disabled people meet their basic needs. But, due to the limitation in policy, economy, the concept of the whole society, and other factors, the results of the efforts are quite limited. Therefore, the lives of most disabled people are still wandering at low levels. They are the poorest citizens in the city and have much less support than they should. They are in desperate need of both practical help and spiritual support.
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About Anshan Bethesda Ministry Rehabilitation
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To help the disabled people in his hometown, Dr. Zhang Xu established a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Anshan -- Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry.
Seeing many disabled people cannot afford a wheelchair, Dr. Zhang contacted an American NGO – “Joni and Friends” to donate wheelchairs to people with disabilities in Anshan. In the past two years, 300 disabled people have received their new wheelchairs. During the distribution of wheelchairs, Dr. Zhang could see and feel the joy and excitement of the wheelchair recipients and their families and friends. Most of the recipients went there by carts or on their friend's back. That day, they received a precious wheelchair and a more precious gift --- a Bible.
Now, Dr. Zhang is contacting another American group – “Free Wheelchair Mission”, hopefully another 550 wheelchairs will come to Anshan soon for the disabled people in rural areas.
The Bethesda also has regular home visit to poor families affected by disabilities. The purpose is to find their need and help them to feel the love and hope. During the home visit, they found that because of the expensive medical service, many disabled people can not afford to go to hospital when they get ill. So the Bethesda started a mobile medical clinic in the poor communities.
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Considering that most disabled people are confined at home all the time, the Bethesda organizes volunteers to bring them out to enjoy the beautiful nature God has made. It is not an easy task for those volunteers, for there is no disability-friendly transportation and infrastructure in Anshan. But when seeing those joyful faces, the volunteers know that their efforts are worthy. Now the outing with disabled people has already become a regular program of Anshan Bethesda.
After many prayers, Dr. Zhang Xu has received a vision for the Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry. In the future, there will be a comprehensive disability center in Anshan, which can provide basic medical service, rehabilitation, entertainment, family retreat, gathering and worship for people affected by disabilities.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, please pray for Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry. And please give your generous help and support to Dr. Zhang’s disability ministry here in China! Thank you very much!
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