6 physiotherapists and 8 students from the medical college of Georgia are in the country to hold a weeklong clinic for children and adults with physical disabilities. The clinic started today that the KHMH and we stopped in to find out about the work they are doing.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This was the scene at the KHMH today…children screaming while foreign physiotherapists try to comfort them as best they could. Volunteers from the Medical College of Georgia today began 4 days of therapy for children and adults with physical disabilities.
Jamie Johnson, Physiotherapist
"We have come volunteering a week of our time to come and provide physical therapy care for the people of Belize but more importantly we are Christians to share the love of Christ to the people here. So today we are seeing a wide range of disabilities in children such as cerebral palsy and kids that have neurological problems in their shoulders from birth and lots of developmental delay, kids that have spina bifida, and lots of diseases and deformities from child birth. So most of these kids are not functioning the way they should be and so we are here to help them and help teach their families to help take care of their kids."
And while the clinic runs only up until Thursday of this week, Johnson says they are leaving behind the tools for the parents to continue to care for the children.
Jamie Johnson,
"(With children) The main emphasis is educating their families and teaching the parents how to take of their kids. We're giving them some braces for the kids to have so that will be something that long term they can have forever that will help with their walking and with their mobility. But teaching the families is a big thing and also there is a physical therapist who works here at the clinic and now the patients will be able to come back and she will be able to follow up with them."
Shawna Fuller, Mother of Patient
"I brought my baby because he has fits."
Alfonso Noble,
So what have they told you so far?
Shawna Fuller,
"They said that when they cut the umbilical cord they blocked the oxygen from his brain so that is why he has seizures."
Alfonso Noble,
So you think they will be able to help you?
Shawna Fuller,
"Yes they helped me a lot."
That promise of help echoed today through the KHMH's therapy room even if the only sign that help was offered came from the healthy hollering of the children.
The clinic will run up until Thursday of this week. Anyone wishing to attend can visit the KHMH.