Page 22 - People Daily Newspaper

PEOPLE DAILY / Monday, September 20, 2021

Your Health It matters

Physiotherapists play critical

Their contribution to IN NUMBERS
healthcare has become
clearer as survivors of 300,000
Covid-19 depend on them for
recovery, especially under the Number of
physiotherapists in the
home based care world.
by Wahinya Henry
@PeopleDailyKE
ercy Wairimu was in
deep thought inside the
ambulance in which her 20,000
daughter, Joy Wambui, 25,
laid motionless. She came
back to her senses as the Number of physiotherapists on
M ambulance from Belleview the continent.
Hospital in South C in the city arrived at their
Ruiru residence.
Her attention was caught by the flurry
of fleeing neighbours who scampered for 1,200
safety at the sight of the Kenya Agricultural
Livestock Research Organisation staff
bringing home her daughter, discharged Number of registered
from hospital after she was diagnosed with physiotherapists in Kenya
Covid-19.
The stigma was instant. Fortunately, Head of Kenyatta National Hospital
a handful of physiotherapists from the Physiotherapy Unit, Kennedy Mogire
hospital came in handy. They accompanied shows how recovering Covid-19 patients
Joy to continue with home-based care after should lie on bed. RIGHT: Joy Gichuhi
she was discharged from the hospital. talks about her experience with Covid-19.
Joy was wheeled into a bedroom PD/HENRY WAHINYA/RODGER NDEGWA
designed to look like a ward, a king-size
gas cylinder hired at a cost of Sh54,000 staying at the hospital.
besides her and fitted with a huge oxygen Head of Kenyatta National Hospital
mask to facilitate breathing. (KNH) Physiotherapy Unit, Kennedy Mogire
The dash out of the compound and says medical and hospital treatment
craned necks of tenants peeping through is more expensive compared to physio
half closed windor curtains baffled treatment or services.
Wairimu, who had visualised a teary He adds that affordability is dependent on
population turning up to receive them. individuals and the price of treatment vary arthritis and chronic heart disease.
“What we got was stigma. Expected from Sh300 per session in some county It is estimated Kenya has registered
help from the neighbours and relatives hospitals to Sh6,000 to Sh10,000 in some 1,200 registered members of the Kenya
was false hope,” explained Wairimu, firmly private institutions and clinics offering Association of Physiotherapists. There are
holding a heap of receipts to the tune of specialised individualised treatment. 300,000 at the global level, according to
millions of shillings. Mogire says KNH is quite fare in pricing World Physiotherapy and under 20,000 in
A survivor of Covid-19 herself, who of Sh650 first visits and Sh500 every other Africa.
recovered faster than her daughter, she visit and for private patients it costs Sh975 In Kenya, poor economy is hampering
was left Sh2.7 million poorer and still owed first visit and Sh750 every other visit. the ability of patients to afford
the hospital Sh600,000. Fortunately, the “There is also a category for East African physiotherapy, whose presence mostly in
management told her to pay later. patients and foreign patients who pay urban areas means poor penetration in the
She also needed two bottles of the Sh1,200 first and Sh1,000 every other visit. rural areas. Many of the graduates lack
drug, tocilizumab, 400mg for Joy, each Physiotherapists also train patients jobs, says Mogire.
costing Sh400,000 help in drip process by on the best position to lie down, to sit, He adds that physiotherapists don’t
facilitating flow of blood. and to engage in activities. Patients are get scholarship opportunities for further
“Besides the cost, the drug was not encouraged to avoid bending and take up training in comparison to other cadres.
available until the third day,” says Wairimu. exercise. “Challenges on specialisation training,
“The hospital was kind to us. I was told to Once a patient is discharged, the most of which are not available locally
go home and pay any amount that comes physiotherapists make home visits to train persist at a time a young regulatory body is
my way,” explains Wairimu, breaking into 8"*3*.6 oximeter, which aids in breathing at home and follow up to establish recovery progress still working on stabilising the market rate
a smile. instead of remaining in a ward set up. through treatment that helps restore and standardising the education,” he adds.
Joy’s tribulations began in early April. 8IBU For Joy, the treatment involved help movement, and function when someone
After presenting some symptoms such as with movement and motion. After being is affected by injury, illness or disability. Critical role
abed for a long time, the risk of blood
body aches and difficulty in breathing, she XF HPU XBT clots, which may be fatal if it finds its way Physiotherapy also helps to reduce the risk Lorna Mbesa Masila, a physiotherapist
resorted to self-treatment, which entailed TUJHNB &YQFDUFE of injury or illness in the future. at Belleview Hospital is in the profession by
taking pain killers. Soon after she was to the heart or lungs, the physiotherapists “It takes a holistic approach that involves chance and wonders at the turn of events
taken to Kenyatta University Hospital, but IFMQ GSPN UIF took her through daily exercises, and the patient directly in their own case,” says following the outbreak of the pandemic.
due to lack of space, she was referred to OFJHICPVST BOE combined it with a nutrition regimen that Mbagathi Hospital based physiotherapist, “I wanted to train as a nurse, but high
included fruits, vegetables and lots of
the Belleview Hospital. She ended up in fluids. They also helped with her hygiene, Miriam Muli. school mates convinced me to take up
the ICU on April 18 and was discharged on SFMBUJWFT XBT Traditional services professionals were physiotherapy. It was less taxing as a
May 13 GBMTF IPQF changing her diapers when she was known for offering neurological services course associated with physical exercise,”
Home-based treatment offered by unable to visit the washroom. for patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, explains Lorna.
physiotherapists range from assisting and All these, according to Wairimu were Parkinson’s, and back pain, whiplash She adds that the high number of
offering help in using gadgets such as the relatively cheaper compared to the bill she associated with disorder, sports injuries, patients admitted in hospitals or recovering
would have received if Joy had continued