In effort to rewrite the story of disability, Hattie’s House Therapy Centre uses different holistic approaches to bring a positive impact in the lives of children with disability and their families. One of these approaches includes collaborating with myriad of stakeholders such as health facilities and learning institutions that work closely with different communities.
Earlier this summer, our team including 2 social workers, 1 occupational therapist, 2 special needs teachers, and the operations manager visited Bomani dispensary and North Coast medical training college for a bench marking exercise and establishment of areas of collaboration. We first visited Bomani dispensary where we received a warm welcome from Beatrice Ammann who is a physiotherapists working under the German Doctors and Consolata who is a social worker. Bomani dispensary works under the support of the German doctors, North Coast medical college, and community health fund. The visit covered orientation to the facility and introduction to the key staffs working there.
Thereafter, we headed to North Coast medical training college for a meeting with one of the directors, Dr. Marianne, and the departmental heads. We deliberated on many issues and the potential areas of collaboration identified included but not limited to the following:
- Establishment of referral mechanisms for clients to attend occupational therapy and Special needs education services at Hattie’s House Therapy Centre and physiotherapy services at Bomani Dispensary.
- Provision of attachment and internship opportunities to trainees.
- Establishment of coordinated follow-ups visits for children who have been discharged especially those accessing services from both facilities.
- Utilise existing system of coordination used by North Coast medical training college and Bomani Dispensary to identify clients and track their progress.
- Initiate continuing medical education programs for the rehabilitation teams.
- Conducting advocacy campaigns and talks to sensitise communities on matters of disability, compliance to therapy and risk factors that predispose children to disability.
- Purchase and distribution of reusable sanitary pads to vulnerable girls and women.
Our fruitful meeting ended with the picking of key representatives who exchanged contacts and moving forward, we agreed to start off our action points by having further communication through those representatives in order to start planning on how to do the implementation part. As always we all realise just the impact having access to therapy and support for these families are our No1 priority, with Hattie’s House we can make the changes so badly needed.
