In 2018 - within the framework of public policies for inclusion and social strengthening promoted by the administration of mayor Enrique Cresto - the PROMAR Orthopedic Bank was launched, a tool that continues to address the demands of residents with the goal of offering comprehensive support to those who have restricted access to various orthopedic resources.
In this context, the Municipal Orthopedic Bank has the purpose of assisting, responding to, and improving the quality of life of the people who need it. It is a free device aimed at people with disabilities, or those who have suffered an accident, who do not have health insurance or who are experiencing an extended delay from it.
Currently, this space is located in the PROMAR facilities and has everything from wheelchairs, crutches, canes, tripod canes, forearm crutches, walkers, and slings, among other items. Some of them recovered and refurbished through the “Reciclarte” program.
The Director of Disability of the Municipality of Concordia, Marcelo Primitivo, mentioned that through this solidarity program, which was accompanied by the Rotary Club Concordia, the Peña Boquense, and the River Branch of Concordia, work was done to seek donations of unused or damaged orthopedic items. “Everything that was collected was repaired and today they are items that many people can use,” noted Primitivo.
DANIEL ORTÍZ, AN EXAMPLE OF LIFE
The labor inclusion of people with disabilities encompasses much more than an economic issue. Several factors are combined here, which are being worked on in broad terms by the current administration. In this framework, the Disability Directorate generates training spaces and forms labor alliances.
An example is that of Daniel Ortíz. He has a motor disability, paraplegia, and for a few years now he has been in charge of managing the Municipal Orthopedic Bank. “I am an employee of the Municipality of Concordia and I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me to work in what I like. The administration of mayor Cresto trusted me, and for my part, I give my all in this activity,” he highlighted.
In his account, he highlights what the work he carries out is like and said that from his area “we assist people who do not have health insurance with any orthopedic item they need. It was created for that purpose. It does not rule out lending it to a person who has health insurance on a loan-for-use basis to assist them until the person manages to solve their problem.”
He also expressed that in this place “together with two colleagues, we repair the items that are in disuse or have some defect that are donated. As happened in the Reciclarte campaign. We work for the purpose of helping people. We put enthusiasm, a lot of effort, and above all commitment into it,” he concluded.