Medical Habilitation

Medical Habilitation and Rehabilitation
Most persons with Cerebral Palsy and Autism are home bound and not able to reach where services are and this is so due to inadequate mobility aids. A number of them are heavy and taken care of by their mothers who are unable to carry them for therapy and other medical services. The mobility appliances have to be modified through assessment of people with Cerebral Palsy and Autism such that they receive appliances which are fit and suitable for them.

Cerebral Palsy and Autism Organization (CPARO) has a well-established Organizational structure. At the helm of the Organization there is the Board of Directors that is composed of the founder members and other people with Cerebral Palsy and parents/ caretakers from various parts of Uganda. The Executive Board Committee runs the Secretariat which is based at CPARO office headed by the chairman Board of Directors and currently employs five support staff to manage the organisational work and implement activities.

IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE CHALLENGES THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE DONE :

An Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) technique called social skills training for more effective interpersonal interactions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve stress management relating to anxiety or explosive emotions and to cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routine.
Medication for co-existing conditions such as epilepsy, major depression, anxiety disorders and gastrointestinal problems etc
Occupational and physical therapy to assist with poor sensory processing and motor coordination
Social communication intervention, which is specialized speech therapy to help the pragmatics of the give and take of normal conversations
Provision of assistive aids which include walking aids, body brace, wheelchairs,eyeglasses, hearing aids among others
Mobility appliances According to World Health Organization, Rehabilitation and habilitation are instrumental in enabling people with limitations in functioning to remain in or return to their home or community, live independently, and participate in education and civic life. Mobility appliances are a matter of equity for PWDs as they facilitate their access to education, work, and social life, increase their independence and enhance their participation in their communities. However, in many low-income countries where Uganda is among, only 5%-15% of people who require assistive devices and technologies have access to them. This means that over 90% of Ugandan children and youth with Cerebral Palsy and Autism who require mobility appliances cannot access them. Most mobility appliances are imported, expensive and not suited to the local environment (poor roads and terrain). As such, they wear out very fast and cannot easily be repaired especially for people in rural areas.