Offering Comprehensive Rehabilitative Services for People With Disability
Background
Free movement in a building is essential if it is to satisfy the occupants and offer comfort and appeal. It even takes precedent over aesthetics. This need becomes even more acute if one is visually or physically challenged as is the case for ten percent of the human population.
The rights of those with disability has in recent times taken centre stage and has gained legitimacy in stark contrast to society’s past tendency to relegate this sector of the population to the periphery. The need to focus on the needs of those living with disability is essential if they and their families are to lifted from the grip of poverty and enabled to claim and use their legitimate human rights, such as access to basic education, participation in income generating activities and cultural respect and tolerance. The need to construct a facility that will cater to the needs of people with disability, both young and old, is paramount. All these aspects can be summarised with the word “Access”: Access to buildings, access to services, access to the economy, access to society.
It’s in this regard that Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services in Uganda (CORSU) a newly established private, not for profit Ugandan NGO set out to establish an Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery Rehabilitation Hospital along with a Rehabilitation Centre, equipped with comprehensive surgical and medical facilities as well as an identification and referral programme in Kisubi, Entebbe.
The beginning
CORSU initiated the first steps to establish a facility that meets the needs of people with disability in 2005. This was in recognition that the present facilities in the country are not adequate to meet the future demands of people with disabilities, particularly with the awareness that affordable rehabilitative surgery reduces disability. As a result, this newly founded Ugandan initiative has been encouraged and supported by Christian Blind Mission CBM an international development agency and many other major partners.
Specifically, CORSU hopes to improve the quality of life of people with disability in Uganda and neighbouring countries by strengthening and developing an active network of service providers, thus preventing disability and reducing the consequences of impairment through the provision of accessible, affordable and high quality rehabilitation services for people with disability, prioritizing physical disability in children and visual disability.
Project brief
The heart of the rehabilitation hospital is the theatre Block. This has four general theatres plus one septic theatre and one day theatre. This will permit a minimum of three surgeons to be operating separately at any one time. The theatres are large enough to be used for teaching and can take more than one operating table should the situation demand. Around this facility the other buildings such as out-patients department, a 64 bed ward, a rehabilitation hostel and an Orthopedic Workshop have been built.
Three phases
The construction was divided into three phases. The first Phase includes all the buildings which are necessary to be able to begin a service of the standard that CORSU intends to provide.
The Phase I buildings included Operating Theatre Block , Out Patient Department (OPD) with X-Ray Block, A 64 Bed Ward, A Rehabilitation Centre/Hostel, an orthopedic Workshop , Laundry and Utilities Buildings.
The Phase II Buildings are Administration Block, further Hostel Blocks, Private Ward with 26 Beds, Trainee/On-call Accommodation, a Chapel and Service buildings
A Phase IIIhas been pre-planned for expansion into further areas of activity. The need and availability of resources will decide when this Phase will be realized.
Salient features
- Enough floor space to accommodate stationary wheelchairs and also enough rooms for a smooth U-turn: at least 1965 mm (78 inches) by 1525 mm (60 inches).
- Tables or counters that are a variety of heights to accommodate standing, seating, and a range of different tasks.
- Shelves and a medicine cabinets that can be reached by persons seated in a wheel chair.
- Entry doors to rooms are at least 815 mm (32 inches) wide.
- Bathroom sinks are no higher than 865 mm (34 inches) from the floor.
- Grab bars in the shower and beside the toilets have been installed. (There are 7 fully equipped Wheelchair toilets)
- Full-length mirrors have been installed that can be viewed by all people, including children.
- Shag carpets, uneven brick floors, and other floor surfaces that could pose slipping and tripping hazards have been avoided.
What CORSU has achieved so far is
- A functioning Rehabilitation Hospital with facility for surgery, and Community Based Rehabilitation programme. Children and people with disability receive quality surgery, which reduces and/or alleviates a disabling condition.
- Children with disability receive appropriate rehabilitation services in terms of physiotherapy and occupational therapy, care and if required receive appropriate orthopaedic appliances and assistive devices to reduce and/or alleviate disability.
- People with disability (physical and visual impairment) and their families receive appropriate support and counseling through a CBR programme to improve their quality of life in Kampala and Wakiso District.
- Trained personnel/human resources with good qualifications and competence are available to provide the required services.
CORSU has been instrumental in achieving the dreams of many by providing affordable rehabilitation, surgery and medical care. Where in the past the fate of many of the disabled was sealed there is hope of a better life
Project team
Client: CORSU
Architect: Symbion International
Main Contractor: Seyani International
Sub contractors: Allied Plumbers
BuildPlus
Multi Consults
Master Power Systems
Ultra Tec
Terrain Plant