BuaNews (Tshwane)
Nthambeleni Gabara
26 November 2008
Pretoria — A newly opened Paediatric Neurology Rehabilitation Centre in Pretoria is set to improve the lives of children with neurological disabilities.
The University of Pretoria and the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health opened the centre on Tuesday at the Tshwane Rehabilitation Centre formerly known as Old Pretoria Academic Orthopaedic Hospital.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tshwane Rehabilitation Centre, Francoise Law said this was the first and only such facility in Gauteng and second largest in the public sector in the country.
"The newly opened facility is not only a joint venture between the University of Pretoria and department, but it was also supported by the private sector with their generous sponsorship.
"The centre is also strongly integrated with the Paediatric Neurology Unit at Steve Biko Hospital and the well-established Paediatric Neuro-network that provides supportive care in communities," the CEO said.
Head of the Paediatric Neurology Facility from the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Prof Izelle Smuts said the facility would comprise a family-friendly environment to help assist children as well as their families.
"Since there is no one who can take away disabilities, we hope and believe that we will be able to bring back smiles to those families with neurological disorders.
"Our therapists will be working hard to provide parents and caregivers of our patients to live and cope under any circumstances with their disabled children.
"We will admit family members of the patients while our therapists will be supervising their children specific needs," she said.
Prof Smuts also told BuaNews that together with another Paediatric Neurologist, they will be providing special care to infants and children under the age of 13.
According to Ms Smuts, children with neurological disabilities often needed treatment that was different than that needed by adults.
She said mothers who will be admitted with their children at the centre will be taught specific skills to optimise feeding via alternative routes, positioning, stretching and exercising under the supervision of trained staff.
One of the main objectives of the facility is to empower mothers or primary caregivers in the optimisation of long-term, home-based rehabilitation of children with neurological challenges.
Apart from building a bridge between academia and community-based medicine, the Rehabilitation Centre also creates awareness of rehabilitation among students and contributes to teaching and research opportunities.
Children will also be attended by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, thus ensuring a comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation programme.
The centre will further cater for the newly-injured clients who have either neurological or spinal cord injuries or traumatic amputations.
The centre started running in April 2006 with 14 spinal cord patients, but recently it has the capacity and facilities for 43 clients.
In January 2009, the unit will be opening more than 28 beds.
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