Regional Rehebilitation Unit and Physiotherapy Department. By Dr. Amos Sanga RRU I/C and Mr. Edward Masanja Orthopaedic Technician.

Activities:

Regional Rehabilitation Unit has a very big responsibility in doing a quality rehabilitative care to patients and people with disabilities.

The Orthopaedic services in our unit is know nationally a bit as well as internationally.

The unit has a good luck because it used to be visited by different experts (orthopaedic surgeons) from KCMC Moshi & Vienna Austria.

Attended Patients.

In the year 2003 we managed to attend 1005 patients during a pre-screening services in different area. Among these 66 patients managed to meet the consultant doctors and Surgeons from KCMC hospital here at Bulongwa Lutheran Hospital where by 17 patients were operated by Dr. John Lyimo and Prof. Mallya who were assisted by Dr. Aman and Dr. Roggers.

Orthopaedic Appliances and Physiotherapy Provided:

During the year 2003 a total number of 6 patients were fitted with laminated prosthesis (2 Transfemural Prosthesis, I knee disarticulation 1 Syme prosthesis and two transtibial prosthesis)

One patient was fitted with long leg brace and 7 were given different supportive apparatus.

4 people were provided with orthopaedic shoes.

The unit also provide manual therapy to patients presented with different neurological disorders, ie by providing exercises. In this services 6 patients were attended.

Achievements.

- The operation was done by surgeons from KCMC as it was scheduled and to all patients who were indicated

- All patients who were provided with appliances and those who attended for only physiotherapy, managed to use the appliances and those for physiotherapy have improved.

- TATCOT – KCMC has continued to support us by providing some materials for our workshop.

- All the patients who were operated, were discharged.

Problems Facing the Unit.

- Lack of quality machines and tools for the workshop

- Lack of physiotherapy room and equipment

- Lack of modem workshop ie good ventilation

- The unit is not much known to the people

- We need one more qualified orthopaedic Technician

- Not all patient were able to pay for the services provided

- There are patients who are not able to come to receive services due for poor economic status.

Future Plan.

- To improve the workshop by renovating and to have at least a small number of necessary equipment for physiotherapy.

- Marketing our unit .

- Increase the number of patients by increasing the number of areas to be visited during prescreening.

- Mr. Herode Sindano has got an opportunity to go for one year training in orthotics this academic year at TATCOT so that we can have two qualified staffs in our unit the course is proposed to cost 6,000$ US

We will continue communicating with CBM so that they pay a disbursement to patients who have been provided with appliances by supplying us materials equivalent to the cost of production of the appliance.