Here’s how MEND assists people challenged with disabilities and poverty:
Along with our Centres and Partners we:
- Provide medical care, including surgery, and rehabilitation
- Offer, if needed, help with transport to the hospital and accommodation costs for the patient and their family
- Give low-cost mobility equipment and other physio aids that are designed to suit special needs and local conditions.
- Set up self-help workshops in developing countries to transfer skills, training and technology.
- Seek sponsors and funding for equipment for those that can not afford it.
- Liaise with them with medical and rehabilitation services.
- Promote our disabled members needs and problems and find solutions through our resource network.
- Recycle hearing aids and artificial limbs from New Zealand, Australia and Germany that provide our projects with low cost quality hearing and mobility equipment.
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How we identify need – 3 step process:
AWARENESS programmes are carried out by MEND in village communities, often in very remote places. These programmes explain the many causes of disability and what local services may be available, like preventative interventions. A range of choices and opportunities are shared for both people with disabilities and their caregivers. Awareness-raising must first remove the stigma of shame or blame for parents having a disabled child or relative.
IDENTIFICATION, is carried out by MEND of children, youth and adults with disabilities. This is performed by a social worker who surveys villages and districts and records the number, types & causes of disability; details about home, family, education and finances; the level of community support available and the quality of accessibility to buildings and toileting facilities.
ASSESSMENT is then undertaken by a trained physiotherapist or doctor of each disabled person to accurately diagnose the cause of disability to decide whether the patient has disease or a muscular or neurological problem and to check the level of joint contractures and limb flexibility in order to gauge the necessary intervention.