Physical Disabilities Rehabilitation in Africa
Original Editor - Anarème Kpandressi as part of the WCPT Network for Amputee Rehabilitation Project
Top Contributors - Sheik Abdul Khadir, Admin, Kim Jackson and Amrita Patro
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. With 1.1 billion people as of 2013, it accounts for about 15% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos. It has 54 fully recognized sovereign states ("countries"), nine territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition.
According to UN statistics, there are currently over 600 million persons with disabilities throughout the world of whom 400 million live in developing countries and 80 million in Africa. Most common disabilities in Africa are: physical, sensory (blindness) and mental disabilities. Our main focus in this paper will be on physical disability.
The main interventions being implemented regarding physical disability are:
- Community based rehabilitation, CBR,
- Provision of orthopedic devices and mobility aids
- Training and capacity development of rehabilitation personnel and orthopedic technicians, physiotherapists, etc.
- Policy development on disability and action plan on behalf of persons with disabilities, PwDs.
Community Based Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]
Community based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social integration of people with disabilities. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disabled people themselves, their families and communities and the appropriate health, education vocational and social services.
