Hope restored as Jackline Mwende gets Prosthetics Limbs at LG HQ, in South Korea.
LG Supports Limbs Operation, a CSR Department of the LG Electronics has made a great difference in Jackline Mwendes’s life by restoring her hope with ‘new hands’.
It was all joy at Seoul, LG Electronics Head Quarters where Jackline Mwende was fitted with prosthetic limbs. Seoul is thousands of miles away from the scene of tragedy in Kenya when two months ago Mwende faced battering that saw her hands chopped off and her face hacked by a person she had trusted as a husband.
LG electronics promised to foot Mwende’s medical and transport costs for the prosthetics hands and arranged for Mwende to be flown to Seoul, Dhailaban Prosthetic Lab for the procedure.
This dream was realized on Friday, October 07, 2016 when Dr. Lee Seung Ho CEO Korea Prosthetics Laboratory provided to Mwende the custom made limbs. The hands were successfully fitted at the LG Head Quarters at the heart of Seoul, S. Korea.
Mr. Dae Sik Yoon Vice President LG Electronics in his remarks noted that the special CSR program is part of what LG does to over 120 countries. Present at the ceremony were, Jeon Hyunjin, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility Team, Jackson Ngari outgoing Vice Chairman Kenya Community in Korea, and East African medical students Ndunguh Steve, Ken Opiyo, Jeremiah Muoka (Kenya) Innocent Biruri (Rwanda) and Halima from Tanzania.
The myoelectric prosthetics that Mwende got use a battery and electronic motors. They are custom-made to fit and are fitted to the stumps with maximum suspension using suction technology. The artificial hands will help Mwende become self-reliant, and restore her hope of living normal daily life. She was able to hold a cup by herself for the first time in more than two months.
Mwende is thankful to God, LG Electronics and all well-wishers for the support she has received so far. Her life which had come to a dead end has been transformed now she has great hopes for the future.
Support from Kenya Community in Korea
Ndugu Steve, a student at Hanyang University in Korea, led other Kenyans to visiting Ms. Mwende. For Mwende, seeing other Kenyans in Korea who visited them at the hospital to spend time with her, made her feel comforted though far away from mother land. The Kenyans who visited Mwende at Hospital have found her thankful to God for the turn of events and eventual restorations of her hands and hope. Many KCK memebrs were able to visit her.
When Tragedy struck
Mwende’s hands were butchered leaving her with injuries on the head after she was brutally attacked by her husband, who blamed her for not being able to conceive any children during their seven-year marriage. Mwende’s husband, Stephen Ngila, allegedly attacked her in their home with a panga on July 23, which also left her deaf in one ear.
Ms Mwende left for Korea on September 26 with Hellen Kanini Mulwa, Nurse working at Machakos County as Director of Emergency Rescue for the specialized treatment. On arrival at Seoul, the September 27th, they were warmly welcome by the Amb. Mohamed Gello and Deputy Head of Mission Amb. Gathoga Chege among members of the Kenya Community living in Korea.
Issues of gender-based violence continue to haunt some Kenyan communities and Mwende’s case can be seen as an example of such. Her husband Ngila has since been accused in a court of law and the law will take its due course.
Kenyan Community in Korea strongly condemns such acts of gender violence. They are glad Mwende’s hands and hope has been restored thanks to LG Electronics for their kind help.
Remarks by Mr. Dae Sik Yoon Vice President LG Electronics
Mr. Yoon said that it was an honor for him and pleasure to join in the ceremony of handing over the myoelectric prosthetics limbs and meet Mwende in person. In his remarks quoted verbatim he said.
LG Electronics currently operates in about 120 nations around the world, and we are proud to say that we actively participate in CSR activities in nearly all of those countries, all in our effort to give back to the local community.
In Kenya, one of our main CSR projects is the limb-operation partnership with kikuyu Hospital. Since 2006, about 700 patients have benefited from this program. The numbers will continue to grow as we plan to keep raising funds for the operations and also raise public awareness of the program.
Finally, I wish to thank Dr. Lee Seung Ho CEO of Korea prosthetics Laboratory who has made special efforts to prepare Mwende’s limbs on record time. I would also like to thank our friends from East Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania for keeping Mwende company during her stay in Korea. We wish Mwende happiness and good health.
Mr. Ngari, former Vice chairman of KCK lauded, LG Electronics for supporting Mwende by restoring her hope and hands. He said that LG Electronics has help many Kenyan students discover their potential and maximize on their talents as well as explore various possibilities and opportunities by awarding them scholarships and jobs. On behalf of all Kenyans living in Korea we are grateful.
Mwende and Helen will fly back to Kenya on Monday after the successful medical tour.
God is Great for saving my life and giving me help, Life is Good with LG for coming into my assistance, I thank all people who have supported me in one way or the other, said Mwende.
About the Author, Jackson Ngari, works at St. Paul’s University-Kenya and is the immediate former Vice-Chairman of KCK-Executive Board, currently a Ph.D. student at Torch Trinity Graduate University, Seoul Korea. You can reach Jackson on jackngari2010@gmail.com