SENEGAL-SOCIETE-HANDICAP / Ziguinchor gets a physical rehabilitation center in Boutoute
The Ziguinchor region (south) has just been equipped with a physical rehabilitation center designed to contribute to the reintegration of people living with disabilities.
This physical rehabilitation center, located in Boutoute, a village in the Niaguis commune, a few kilometers from Ziguinchor, was inaugurated on Monday by the Director General of Social Action, Arame Top Sène.
It was built thanks to the association of mine victims (ISAD-ASVM), in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), as part of the USAID/Aliwili II project.
"It's a center that will contribute to the reintegration of people living with disabilities, by helping them to equip themselves for better mobility", explained at the inauguration ceremony, attended by traditional and customary chiefs, local authorities and partner representatives.
They added that this initiative was born of the desire to help repair and rebuild the victims of the conflict in Casamance, in particular the victims of anti-personnel mines.
According to the Director General of Social Action, the project has three operational components, including an infrastructure and logistics component, characterized by the construction of a new minefield.These include the construction of a complete orthopedic workshop, a physiotherapy unit and the purchase of a mobile clinic unit.
It also includes a production and supply component for orthopedic appliances and materials (prostheses), and a training component focusing on capacity-building for local professionals in the orthopedic field.
"The result we expect from this project is the construction of this fitting center", so that it can "take care of 600 disabled people and train ten technicians in the field of orthopedics and new assistive technologies", said Arame Tope Sène.
She recalled that rehabilitation is a component of health defined as a set of measures that help people with disabilities to achieve and maintain optimal functioning in interaction with their environment.
"Rehabilitation not only reduces the impact of non-communicable diseases and improves the quality of life of aging populations, but also promotes recovery from illness or trauma," added Ms. Sène.
She stressed that assistive technologies help to improve human functioning, before urging the project managers to spare no effort to ensure its successful implementation.
"We thought of setting up this initiative which is in line with the new artificial leg technology to try and complement the services already available. We are proud to have set up this center, which today has produced 16 devices," praised Sarany Diatta, coordinator of the mine victims' association.
In addition to landmine victims, the physical rehabilitation center takes care of diabetic amputees and people injured during political demonstrations.
"This is a noble initiative, and we're delighted to have the support of our development partners (USAID) for the construction of this center. The people affected by the conflict will experience real relief", Mr. Diatta praised.
Source: aps.sn/
