Rehabilitation 260 disabled children in Zimbabwe

Many people in Zimbabwe face financial challenges due to the country’s economic status. Most caregivers of children with disabilities find it difficult to travel to the rehabilitation centre at our offices in central Mutare. When we saw that children were dropping out of the programme because of their challenging circumstances, we tackled it by reaching out to families in the communities they live in by providing weekly community based rehabilitation sessions. Our Evidence and Effectiveness Officer Chenge reports:

It is Monday morning and we are in a suburb called Dangamvura where we organise community based rehabilitation sessions at a local church. Like every Monday morning, Leannah and her mother Wadzanai are already waiting in front of the church. As soon as Leannah sees us she breaks a smile and her dimpled face lights up. Leannah’s grandmother provides moral support and also comes for Leannah’s rehabilitatation sessions whenever she can. This support comforts Wadzanai as she feels that she is not alone, whereas often other caregivers are being neglected for having a child with a disability. S4S stimulates family participation during the rehabilitation process. When families are involved, children are supported and likely to develop to their full potential.

Two year old Leannah has Cerebral Palsy. She cannot sit, walk or crawl due to weakness in her upper and lower limb muscles. They joined the programme when Leannah was just one year old. A caregiver in the S4S programme told them about S4S when they met at the local clinic. Wadzanai is very committed to Leannah’s rehabilitation and they never miss an appointment. The regular exercises have greatly helped Leannah’s development. Wadzanai explaines: “With consistent exercises I believe Leannah will reach a level of independence one day”. And indeed, it is evident that the exercises are helping Leannah’s development as she has improved head control and she can lift and turn her head on her own. She can also move her legs and is now attempting to sit and stand with some support. Wadzanai: “This improvement has shown me that one day my child will walk”.

It is exercise time for Leannah. S4S Rehab Tech Rumbi asks Wadzanai to demonstrate the exercises she does at home to see if she is performing them correctly. During these sessions caregivers are taught exercises which suit their child’s condition. They are taught the importance of adhering to these exercises and are encouraged to continue with the exercises when they are at home. Wadzanai: “I do exercises with Leannah at least twice daily, in the morning when she wakes up and in the evening before bed. In the afternoons I usually train her to sit.” Wadzanai demonstrates the exercises to Rehab Tech Rumbi, before Rumbi takes over and shows her new exercises to do at home.

Then slowly more people begin to trickle in and among them are Ndanatsei and her daughter Nokutenda, who are new to S4S. They fellowship at the church we use for this programme and heard about S4S during an announcement at Sunday’s church service. They take a seat and wait for Rumbi to finish her exercises with Leannah so that an intake can be conducted with them an individual rehabilitation plan can be drawn up. At the end of their session Wadzanai tell us the following: “I am grateful that S4S teaches me what exercises to do with Leannah. I can see she is improving. But there are many more children like Leannah who are not getting the support they need. I ask you to assist those children too.” And she is right, as is show by the constant flow of new children joining the programme.

In the period June-August S4S has been able to assist 34 children and their caregivers with weekly rehabilitation sessions. In that same period 11 children received medication for epilepsy. 117 Children with disabilities took part in our weekly community based inclusive sport and games programme. Your help is very welcome and will change the lives of the children and their families. For only US$10 you can provide a child with a 2 month supply of eplipelsy medication, whereas US$50 alllows a caregiver and child to attend weekly rehabilitation sessions, like Wadzanai and Leannah.

Leannah’s session is done, we will see her again next Monday. Rumbi advises them to continue with exercises at home until then. It is time to do the intake with Ndanatsei and

Links:

• S4S website