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REHABILITATION OF DISABLED IN SAIDA CAMPS |
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This
project will continue and expand on the existing rehabilitation program
run in the PRCS Rehabilitation Centre run in conjunction with Al-Hamsharee
Hospital in Ein El-Hilwie Refugee Camp in Saida (Sidon) in South
Lebanon. It
is home to about 100,000 refugees.The
purchase of medications, disposables and materials, transportation and
the salaries of four therapists will be continued for one more year. This
is a community-based project that trains physiotherapists and provides
support to a mobile team that goes to the homes of disabled children and
young adults who are unable to leave their homes.
Disabled persons are given treatment in group sessions at the
Rehabilitation Centre and in one-on-one treatment in the homes of the
patients as required. Due to the prolonged civil war which ended in 1990 and to
on-going conflicts in the area, there is a significant segment of the
population in the refugee camps that is unable to access traditional,
formal rehabilitation services. The
project includes the provision of supplies and equipment such as braces,
orthotics, free weights, stretch bands, wheel chairs and personal
hygiene aids. PRCS identified this project through its ongoing direct service to the community. The medical professionals, in cooperation with the families of several disabled families, determined the need. In the post-war environment, the needs of the disabled population could now be seriously taken into consideration. Though there were some small NGOs addressing the needs of a limited number of the disabled, a significant expansion of those services was required to ensure accessibility to the whole. In an attempt to modernize and humanize the treatment options for the disabled, the project was recommended to the PRCS. The need for this project was also verified by another overseas NGO, MAP-UK, who had identified it to HUMANSERVE as a worthwhile and necessary project. HUMANSERVE then met with the head of the clinic, which implements the project to discuss methodology. We began partnering with PRCS on this project in 1998 – funds matched by the Wild Rose Foundation of Alberta. We are currently heading in to the end of a second year of the project – funds matched by the Wild Rose Foundation and by CIDA. Year
III of the
project will focus on providing therapy to the disabled population who
are unable to access traditional, formal types of therapy.
It will provides in-home service to shut-ins in the refugee camps
in the city of Saida in South Lebanon.
Before the introduction of the first phase of this project, this
population was generally ignored, and the quality of life for the
disabled person, and the family was negatively affected. All
Palestinians living in Lebanon as a result of the exodus from Palestine
are not considered citizens of Lebanon and therefore they are also
deprived of services from the Lebanese municipalities regardless of
whether or not they are of the generation(s) to be born in Lebanon. They
are totally dependant on employment by Lebanese nationals (at times
unsympathetic or antagonistic depending on the current
political/economical situation) and on foreign aid and relief programs
run by overseas NGO’s. Despite
the Lebanese government’s approval and ratification of the U.N’s Convention
on the Rights of the Child on September 30, 1990, Palestinian
children are still considered foreigners and are therefore not included
in any development plans or services related to health, education, care
for the disabled, etc. The
prevailing attitude in the Middle East is that disabled persons should
be “hidden” from society and the families/parents of these children
often feel guilty and ashamed of their situation.
Disabled persons in general do not have any rights or freedoms
from prejudices that currently deny them fair access to work and the
ability to move about due to lack of wheelchair accessibility, etc.
Disabled Palestinians are at even more of a disadvantage due to
the enormous economic problems faced by the refugees as outlined above.
There are at least 32 special needs persons (male and female) ranging in age from 1 year to 16 (19 people) and 17 years and over (13 people) who will benefit directly from the project. An additional 200 (approx.) family members of the program recipients will benefit indirectly. Other beneficiaries are the mothers, father and primary caregivers of the patients who are provided with training. PRCS and health care staff will also benefit in terms of increased employment opportunities, and training. Of the four therapists receiving training, 3 are women. In addition, the trainer is a woman. Therefore, a majority of those who benefit from the project both directly and indirectly will be women. The community of the refugee camp as a whole will benefit as a society from increased exposure to and acceptance of persons with disabilities.
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