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Nwabesi's
First Steps:
Bedford Hospital, Umtata South Africa
March, 2002
"Nowhere has the
legacy of apartheid been more shocking than in the state of health care
in the former Transkei region" -Nelson Mandella-
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In
Transkei, South Africa's poorest province, polio, tuberculoses and other
debilitating physical conditions still afflict many children. Bedford
hospital in Umtata is one of the few places where treatment is available.
Physical therapist volunteers from abroad come to help.
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Nwambesi
sustained a left hemiplegia a few years ago in a road traffic accident.
This sadly resulted in her becoming immobile. With Physical therapy her
confidence grew dramatically and she managed to take a few steps quite
early on in her rehabilitation.
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Following
intensive physical therapy, and the encouragement of volunteer physical
therapists Siobhan Jones and Angela Hartmann, eight year old Nwambesi,
who has been immobile for a few years following a road traffic accident,
finally takes her first steps. " Look I can walk" was what she said to
the other children on the ward in Xhosa (the native language).
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Seven
year old Java is Nwambesi's best of friend on the children's ward at Bedford
and the two are inseparable.
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Java,
suffers from polio. She could walk short distances independently with
her walker by the time we left Bedford, but found it far easier and quicker
to walk on her knees, now with large callouses. Here she scoots ahead
of Nwambesi, encouraging her to press on back to the children's ward. |
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Cerebral
Palsy is a common condition found at Bedford Hospital. Since pediatric
physical therapy is unavailable, sever contractures are frequently present,
impairing children's mobility, development and independence. As the main
orthopedic hospital in the Transkei, there is an overwhelming demand on
Bedford's services. Professor McConnachie and his team face incredible
challenges each day, but are committed and determined to provide the best
possible care. At present there is no permanent physical therapist in
Bedford, volunteers are urgently needed. If you are a Physical Therapist
interested in helping at Bedford Hospital in Umtata, South Africa, contact
Health Volunteers Overseas at www.hvousa.org
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