Hi Everyone,
Well, we have reached Lusaka in one piece after catching a bus from Luanshya (on the Copperbelt) on Wednesday. The bus was scheduled to leave around 8 am, but they had to wait for it to fill up and we finally left at around 10am (we're getting used to Zambia time!).
Yesterday, we visited the University Teaching Hospital (UTH to the locals) and as we walked into the building Fran spotted a sign that said "Occupational Therapy". I could not believe my eyes!
UTH is the largest hospital in Zambia and caters for around 800 inpatients and sees 1400 outpatients a day. We briefly met with the managing director, and when I asked about the Occupational Therapy Department he started telling me about Physiotherapists who then do some occupational therapy training. My heart sank... my spirits were quickly lifted as our Rotary host, Peter, told me he knew an Occupational Therapist who worked in the hospital.
So we went on a mission to track her down.... Her name is Julie and she's from Holland. She's been in Africa for 12 years, and Zambia for four. Her role at the university is in the Department of Medical Education Development. She's trying to improve the standard of teaching of the Universitie's medical courses (she also has a Masters in Public Health and Medical Education - hence she can take on this role). She has very little to do with the 'occupational therapy' department, as it is not run by Occupational therapists, but by people who have had some basic training in rehabilitation. She is able to subsidise her wage from the university by working as an OT at one of the international schools, assisiting with children with ADD and Aspergers, and also educating the staff about these conditions. We had a rather candid discussion about the organisations and facilities I've seen whilst we've been away, and she was able to fill in the gaps from a cultural point of view. She is keen to get Australian Occupational Therapy students to do project placements in Community Based Rehabilitation in Zambia and is willing to supervise these students too (I have no idea how she'll fit it in - she's so busy already!)
After meeting Julie, we visited Apters and Disacare. Apters is an organisation run by people with disabilities that produces paper mache equipment for children with diasbilities - they make corner chairs, standing frames, and supportive seating and charge a very minimal fee. The structure is started with dense cardboard and then the paper mache is applied to give the stability. They are painted brightly and varnished for durability.
Disacare is also run by people with disabilities. They make wheelchairs and do wheelchair modifcations to suit village life. We'll include some pictures of their work when we have more time. Their latest invention is a tricycle ambulance - a tricycle with a trailer on the back in the form of a stretcher to carry people out of the village and to the nearest health clinic. Amazing stuff!!
That's all for now. We're off to Livingstone today to see the mighty Victoria Falls!
Take care, Jodie : )
Well, we have reached Lusaka in one piece after catching a bus from Luanshya (on the Copperbelt) on Wednesday. The bus was scheduled to leave around 8 am, but they had to wait for it to fill up and we finally left at around 10am (we're getting used to Zambia time!).
Yesterday, we visited the University Teaching Hospital (UTH to the locals) and as we walked into the building Fran spotted a sign that said "Occupational Therapy". I could not believe my eyes!
UTH is the largest hospital in Zambia and caters for around 800 inpatients and sees 1400 outpatients a day. We briefly met with the managing director, and when I asked about the Occupational Therapy Department he started telling me about Physiotherapists who then do some occupational therapy training. My heart sank... my spirits were quickly lifted as our Rotary host, Peter, told me he knew an Occupational Therapist who worked in the hospital.
So we went on a mission to track her down.... Her name is Julie and she's from Holland. She's been in Africa for 12 years, and Zambia for four. Her role at the university is in the Department of Medical Education Development. She's trying to improve the standard of teaching of the Universitie's medical courses (she also has a Masters in Public Health and Medical Education - hence she can take on this role). She has very little to do with the 'occupational therapy' department, as it is not run by Occupational therapists, but by people who have had some basic training in rehabilitation. She is able to subsidise her wage from the university by working as an OT at one of the international schools, assisiting with children with ADD and Aspergers, and also educating the staff about these conditions. We had a rather candid discussion about the organisations and facilities I've seen whilst we've been away, and she was able to fill in the gaps from a cultural point of view. She is keen to get Australian Occupational Therapy students to do project placements in Community Based Rehabilitation in Zambia and is willing to supervise these students too (I have no idea how she'll fit it in - she's so busy already!)
After meeting Julie, we visited Apters and Disacare. Apters is an organisation run by people with disabilities that produces paper mache equipment for children with diasbilities - they make corner chairs, standing frames, and supportive seating and charge a very minimal fee. The structure is started with dense cardboard and then the paper mache is applied to give the stability. They are painted brightly and varnished for durability.
Disacare is also run by people with disabilities. They make wheelchairs and do wheelchair modifcations to suit village life. We'll include some pictures of their work when we have more time. Their latest invention is a tricycle ambulance - a tricycle with a trailer on the back in the form of a stretcher to carry people out of the village and to the nearest health clinic. Amazing stuff!!
That's all for now. We're off to Livingstone today to see the mighty Victoria Falls!
Take care, Jodie : )
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