Wheelchairs - A human rights issue or a mere mobility device? Personal reflections of an occupational therapist

 

 

June McIntyre

B.Arb.; Part time Technician/ lecturer/clinical supervisor, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, University of KwaZulu Natal and Part time coordinator of the Wheelchairs KZN project of the Operation Jumpstart Association

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

People with disabilities, such as those with mobility impairments are particularly vulnerable to the abuse of many of their human rights. There seems to be little difference whether they access services through the public or private health care system. Drawining on the author's many years of experience as the project coordinator of a wheelchair donor programme in the province of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) in South Africa (S.A.), thh article seeks to explore some of these issues with the use of ilustrative case studies clients accessing wheelchairs both through the public health and the private sector.

Key words: wheelchair provision, human rights, public and private health care system

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References

1. Khalfan K Disability rights: Global and African perspective Unpublished Report Paper presented at 4^th All African Wheelchair Congress. Tanzania 17^th to 21^st Sept 2007.         [ Links ]

2. South African. Constitution 1996 - Chapter 2 Bill of Rights. South African Government Information.         [ Links ]

3. United Nations. Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities December 2006 United Nations Enable.         [ Links ]

4. Department of Health. National Rehabilitation Policy. Rehabilitation for all. November 2000.         [ Links ]

5. Nhlapo C M, Watermeyer B, Schneider M. Disability and Human Rights: the South African Human Rights commission. In: Watermeyer B, Swartz L, Lorenzo T, Schneider M and Priestly M, Editors. Disability and Social Change. A South African Agenda. Cape Town, HSRC Press, 2006.         [ Links ]

6. Statistics South Africa, Census 2001 : Accessed from http://www.statssa.gov.za in June 2009.         [ Links ]

7. Department of Health Standardisation of Provision of Assistive Devices in South Africa. Directorate: Chronic Diseases, Disabilities and Geriatrics. Pretoria, April 2003. Department of Health.         [ Links ]

8. Map accessed from http://www.kzntopbusiness.co.za/site/municipal-structure in June 2009.         [ Links ]

9. Department of Health KZN website http://www.kznhealth.gov.za in June 2009.         [ Links ]

10. Scheffler E. Understanding basic principles of seating. Power point presentation undated - accessed from www.bethesdahoutbay.co.za/documents/Wheelchairs.Basic%20Principles%20of%20Seating.pdf in June 2009.         [ Links ]

11. Personal discussions with a variety of donor organisations in KZN in 2009.         [ Links ]

12. Personal discussions with a variety of wheelchair suppliers in KZN during 2009.         [ Links ]

13. Personal discussions with Community Service Therapists at rural hospitals in KZN in 2009.         [ Links ]

14. Provincial Government of Western Cape, Guidelines for Donation of Wheelchairs. January 2009. Accessed on www.capegateway.gov.za in June 2009.         [ Links ]

15. Department of Health, KwaZulu Natal Annual Report 2007/2008. Department of Health KwaZulu Natal accessed on www.kznhealth.gov.za/disability/state.pdf in Juine 2009.         [ Links ]

16. Personal discussions with wheelchair suppliers and therapists at the rehabilitation unit at a Life Care hospital in Durban during 2009.         [ Links ]

17. Personal discussions with therapists at the rehabilitation unit at a Life Care hospital in Durban during 2009.         [ Links ]

18. General Notice 632 COIDA (130/1993): Tariff of fees in respect of orthotists/prosthetists Government Gazette Vol 528 No 32270 Pretoria 3 June 2009.         [ Links ]

19. Personal discussions with a variety of Non Governmental Organisations involved with offering services to people with disabilities in KZN during 2009.         [ Links ]

20. Department of Health Patient's Rights Charter, accessed on www.doh.gov.za/docs/legislation/patientsright/chartere.html June 2009.         [ Links ]

21. Philpott S, McLaren P Disability. In: The South African Health Review 1997. Durban. Health Systems Trust. 1997.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
June Mclntyre, B.Arb
Mcintyrej@ukzn.ac.za