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Thanks to a large donation from George-based company, MDL Electrical, the Humansdorp Hospital Rehabilitation Centre was able to hand over wheelchairs and walking assistance devices to the Hankey community recently, in the hope that they will be able to be reintegrated into their community, and do activities they enjoy.
Melissa King, physiotherapist at the rehabilitation centre, said they planned to hand over 10 wheelchairs, but since one of their recipients passed away recently, they only handed over nine, and plan to re-issue the additional wheelchair at a later stage.
She said that the process of handing over wheelchairs to qualifying candidates can be lengthy; however, they encourage the community to visit the hospital before the process can begin.
“Once patients have been identified, they are then measured for a wheelchair and prescribed a specific wheelchair, dependent on various elements. The wheelchairs are then ordered, collected, and issued, to patients. It is also important for the recipients to visit the hospital for a follow-up, to ensure they are fully comfortable with the wheelchair,” said King.
In addition to handing over wheelchairs, she said that they also issued tripod walking devices, walking sticks, crutches, and paediatric crutches.
Physiotherapist Jaco Steenkamp said that at the centre they offer a wide range of care to the community, which includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and dietetics, which deals with the nutrition of patients.
As part of their outreach programme he said they wanted to reach out to people in Hankey with mobility problems, to have more freedom and to be reintegrated into the community.
“It is important that people are not excluded from activities within the community, because they are unable to move around freely. We therefore want to help these people get back to what they were doing before their mobility was affected,” said Steenkamp.
“By reintegrating people into the community, we are also trying to avoid any other issues to their overall health, and mental health, as people are free to go to church, attend sporting activities, or any other outdoor events they previously enjoyed instead of being isolated at home.”
To receive assistance at the rehabilitation centre, or to inquire about receiving a wheelchair or walking assistance device, Steenkamp said that people must visit their local clinic to receive a referral letter for the rehabilitation centre.
After receiving a perfectly fitted wheelchair at the handover event, Frank Nukayo said he was happy with his new wheelchair.
He said he initially received his first wheelchair in 2020, with the assistance of a family friend, but found that the wheelchair did not fit him correctly and he needed a specialised wheelchair.
“My new wheelchair fits me well and I am happy,” said Nukayo.
A second wheelchair recipient, Sina Kurat, said that for the last two years she often felt isolated at home, since she was not able to move around freely without a wheelchair.
“I am happy to have my own wheelchair, because now I am able to go to church,” said Kurat.
In addition to the issuing of wheelchairs and walking assistance devices at the handover event, assistance with various health-related issues such as TB, HIV, diabetes, and high blood pressure, was also offered.
Focusing specifically on the importance of health, CEO of Humansdorp Hospital, Martin Shebi, encouraged the recipients to prioritise their health because “health is wealth”.
“People are responsible for their own health, and can still remain healthy and active even when they make use of a wheelchair or walking assistance device,” said Shebi.
He further advised the recipients to use the wheelchairs and devices wisely and proactively.
