By Lucinda Kerschensteiner | Director
The Uhambo South African team visited the town of Newcastle, South Africa in August 2024. The purpose of the trip was to work with 17 families, provide wheelchairs and to train therapists on how to fit the wheelchairs with the children.
Therapists from the local hospital were trained on how to customize the wheelchairs for the children's medical needs. Clients who attended the seating clinics had basic, intermediate and advanced seating needs, with the majority having intermediate needs. 15 clients received new devices on that day. The training team also provided support to the parents and families of children with disabilities and a peer support group was formed. The parents raised many challenges that they faced in the community, the main challenge being the impact on their mental health resulting from being the parent of a child with a disability. This session was the first one attended by the parents, and it created an opportunity for parents to form bonds with other mothers, and reduce some of the isolation they feel.
Here's one story: Snethemba is a 13-year-old girl who was referred to the by a child care center. Before receiving a new device, Snethemba was sitting in a wheelchair that did not offer her any support. It was too wide and did not have an appropriate back system or seat cushion. Prolonged sitting in this position would have resulted in further fixed deviations of the trunk, pelvis and feet.
Following the fitting, it is clear that Snethemba is much more comfortable. She’s able to sit upright and is well supported by a wheelchair that is the correct fit and has the appropriate components, i.e. a seat cushion, rigid back system, foot support, tray table and head support. We are so happy that Snethemba is more comfortable now. She is sitting in a device that is the correct size and has the correct type of backrest and components such as a tray table. We hope that she will be able to participate in her home and school environment more effectively from now on.
The team will return in a few months to continue their work with these families.
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