A team of Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapists, along side students from Wits University, trained the Community Health Workers (CHW) at Chiawelo Community Practice on stroke and rehabilitation. The training focused on the role of physiotherapy, dealing with pressure sores, positioning stroke patients, and upper and lower limb exercises; all accompanied by practical sessions.

Here are a few responses from the CHWs who reported back on what they learnt from the training:

“Going for Physiotherapy training has taught me not only what a stroke means, but how to help the stroke patient to be more independent and get a feel of having their lives back to normal”

“We were taught hot to assist the patients with dressing up, hot the family/friends can move them from one chair to another, and how to position the patients to check for bed sores and pressure sores”.

“The training was good. We learnt how to transfer patients from the bed to a wheelchair, or chair”.

“We learnt how to help a stroke patient to be independent, to be able to do things for him/herself”.

“I learnt how to position patients who are bed-ridden and teach the whole family to do exercises to help them with their habits”

“Empowering me more and making me see that stroke patients can still get help and live a normal life”

A special thanks to Sanchia Adam, Talor Golach, Zainab Ismail, and Reggie Sefeffe, as well as all the Wits students who were involved in training.