Wheelchair Program Field Report

by Eunice Shen, April 2008

Kham Aid Foundation (KAF) 2008 Wheelchair Project was planned for execution in three counties of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Kham region of the Tibetan plateau from April 5^th through April 18^th, 2008.  However, this year’s work in the Kham Province had to be deferred due to new government travel restrictions into this region.  KAF wheelchair team leader will be returning to complete the original plan at a later date per the requests of the local government.  The wheelchairs purchased for the individuals with disabilities in the Kham region are currently stored until we can return to Kham to complete our work.

The wheelchair team members, which consisted of one physician, three physical therapists, a local educator, and a translator, worked on our alternative plan with dedication, and provided compassionate care wherever we were working.  The team had the opportunities to provide medical care and physical therapy (PT) services in four different areas: 1) Preschool and outpatient services program with the Federation of Disabled People in Chengdu city and county, 2) Holy Love School for children with disability in Chengdu county, 3) Hansen Colony in Sichuan, and 4) Zigong County Special Education patient services, and 5) an orphanage in Sichuan.

We provided PT consultation and intervention services for over twenty children with cerebral palsy and a dozen children with autism at the Federation center.  At the Holy Love School, we visited both their children and adults with disability programs.  We saw over 50 children and provided consultation services. In Zigong county (a day’s trip from Chengdu county), we visited and provided consultation services at their new special education facility where over two dozen children resides and are educated. We also provided PT intervention to a half dozen children.

The most challenging and unique experience for the team was providing medical care for the residents in the Hansen (Leper) Colony, which was located in a remote region of the province. The picture below shows some of the living quarters of the residents.  Running water and electricity were not readily available.  There were over 40 adults and two dozen children seen.  The important lessons our team learned from this April’s work were to be adaptable in the new and challenging circumstances, flexible and willing to go beyond our comfort zone to provide medical services in multiple projects.  The physical therapists’ experience in wound care management was most useful in the colony.

We had two new team members that participated in KAF’s wheelchair project this April.  Although all the team members wanted to go and work in Kham, all expressed appreciation for having the opportunities to explore and service in such diverse work in other parts of Sichuan.  The KAF wheelchair team is to be commended for working every single day of  their two week stay, rising above the logistical uncertainties creased by the change in plan to serve patients to the best of their abilities.  This team leader felt that everyone worked very hard and their efforts were appreciated by the leaders of the different host organizations and the patients and families  we worked with this April 2008.

Eunice Shen, PT, DPT, MS, PCS

KAF Wheelchair Project Coordinator