‘Equip Mchinji Hospital physiotherapy ward’

Still I Rise Tingathe Initiative founder Ndida Mando has asked well-wishers to donate gym equipment and materials to Mchinji District Hospital physiotherapy ward to enable patients recover quickly.

Currently, the physiotherapy room at the hospital has no resources and has been turned into a storeroom for broken beds, stretchers and chairs.

Speaking on Wednesday during his exercises at the hospital, Mando said patients required to undergo physical therapy need equipment to sit down, stand up or walk again.

“Without equipment, the treatment is usually not effective and the process may prolong because it is difficult for patients to exercise,” he said.

Mando, a person with a disability, said he realised the importance of physiotherapy after he was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2016.

“Due to lack of resources at Mchinji District Hospital physiotherapy department, I was forced to go to a private clinic which had the materials,” he said.

On his part, Mchinji District Hospital deputy physiotherapist Ian Mwanza said they lack materials and equipment to use during diagnosis and treatment.

He said the department is doing its best to adapt to the situation, but said treatment lasts longer than expected.

“Treatment sessions that are expected to last 12 hours can take up to 20 hours which is not ideal,” said Mwanza.

During Malawi News Agency’s visit to the hospital yesterday, reporters met Happiness Kabwazi, a child with a condition called down syndrome, who needs a standing frame equipment to help her learn to control her trunk and pelvis.

For walking, the department needs rollator and parallel bars to help her.

Some of the items the physiotherapy department needs include training stairs, wheeled posterior walker, adaptive chairs and balance board.