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Robin Muchetu , Senior Reporter
WHEN Mr Peter Nyoni was involved in a road traffic accident in October last year, he was unsure if he would get the rightful assistance considering the extent of his injuries and the fact that he was far away from home.
He visualised a life of suffering as he recovered. Mr Nyoni had lost most functionality of his body and did not know where he would find help.
Despite being a resident of Bulawayo, he was unaware of the Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Centre (WRCS), a facility run by the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) — where his life was to be transformed for the better.
“I was involved in a road traffic accident (RTA) on my way from Harare. In that accident, I injured my spinal cord, the C6 and C7. I was rushed to Harare for two surgeries to fuse my spine together and while I was there, one of the immediate things we were told was the need to start rehabilitation. In Harare, I was told I could go to St Giles for help because the injury was quite unique and not all rehabilitation centres could handle the injury. I stayed at St Giles for months,” said Mr Nyoni.
Individuals with a C7 spinal cord injury in particular may have limited or absent sensation (feeling) or movement below the shoulders and/or neck.
This can make it difficult to move or feel anything in the lower body, trunk, and sometimes even in the hands and fingers. The long stay at St Giles Rehabilitation Centre strained his family financially, travelling between Bulawayo and Harare and having to leave their children behind. His family was looking for a rehabilitation centre in Bulawayo that could handle his case.
“We could not find any; we had people searching everywhere until one day someone asked if we had tried Nssa, but we had been told they only take people who contribute to it. With hope and faith, we tried and doors opened for me to be here as a private patient. The only Nssa I knew was in town. They said there was one next to Mpilo Central Hospital in Mzilikazi. I was missing my family so much and I would have done anything to be back home,” said Mr Nyoni.
He said he was admitted as an in-patient for a few weeks as they assessed him.
Mr Nyoni who was self-employed before his injury had been sceptical about the WCRC owing to its location but his sentiments changed when he was admitted there.
“I was amazed when I came to this facility; it was so clean and I believe it is Bulawayo’s best kept secret.
Not many people know about it, maybe those who subscribe to Nssa but a majority of the population don’t know that there is such a facility. We were worried if I was going to get good care that matched what I was getting in Harare. We thought the progress I had made would be lost but when I got to the facility, just by looking at the equipment, I realised I was getting into a better place. There is world-class equipment, something that we had not found anywhere else. The care is really amazing,” he added.
Mr Nyoni said he has been receiving the best of care since his admission to the centre in February this year. A C6 spinal cord injury usually means a high degree of effect on the body. Someone with a complete or near-complete C6 injury may have some hand and arm sensation and movement, but it is likely to be quite restricted compared to the average person.
Nssa acting general manager Dr Charles Shava said rehabilitation of injured people at the workplace is an investment.
“The World Health Organisation defines rehabilitation as ‘a set of interventions designed to optimise functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment’. In other words, rehabilitation helps a child, adult, or older person to be as independent as possible in everyday activities and enables participation in education, work, recreation, and meaningful life roles such as taking care of family. Rehabilitation is therefore an investment, with cost benefits for both the individuals and society. It can help to avoid costly hospitalisation, reduce hospital length of stay, prevent re-admissions, and minimise the need for financial or caregiver support,” said Dr Shava.
He said some workplace accidents can have a lasting impact on an employee’s emotional well-being.
Affected workers may experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This emotional distress is exacerbated by loss of income and sometimes loss of families.
Loss of family (desertion by spouse) is prevalent among grossly injured patients. The WCRC in Bulawayo has been a game changer in the rehabilitation of injured workers in Zimbabwe with admissions currently including patients from as far as Nyanga, Chipinge, Mutare and various areas across the Matabeleland region.
“The first step in our programme is a medical evaluation to assess the extent of the injury which is done by medical doctors. Based on the assessment findings, a tailored treatment plan is developed. This may include but not limited to pain management, surgical intervention, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, counselling by our staff and or by other medical specialists if so required.
“Occupational Therapy helps with regaining skills needed for daily living and employment. Prosthetic and orthotic services provide artificial limbs, walking aids, supports and braces when required,” said Dr Shava.
He said paraplegics and tetraplegics are provided with standard, customised or electric wheelchairs according to their needs.
Upon completion of rehabilitation, clients are discharged back to their workplaces. In cases where clients fail to return to work, Social Work and Vocational Training Unit takes over to provide psychosocial support and re-skilling training.
When workers recover, some would want to return to work. Nssa empowers injured workers and this involves addressing psychological aspects to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
It also involves motivational strategies to encourage a positive mindset and goal setting. Nssa notes that successful reintegration into the workplace is a critical component of recovery and that employers play a crucial role by accepting workers with impairments back into the workplace.
“We have several encouraging cases where we have collaborated with employers who have adjusted job roles to accommodate physical limitations. Some employers have agreed to structured return to work programmes that facilitate a gradual return to work. Employers also have made changes to the work environment to prevent re-injury,” said Dr Shava.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini weighed in on workplace injuries saying they are among the top 10 causes of out-patient visits at health centres and major hospitals across the country.
He said workplace injuries account for 50 percent of all disabilities in the country.
Deputy Minister Kwadini said of particular concern are injuries resulting from road accidents, domestic and work-related accidents which contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in our population.
Nssa acting director Occupational Health and Safety Dr Betty Nyereyegona said the authority also sees to the welfare of the person attending to an injured worker upon their discharge by offering a cash allowance.
“Over the years, we have developed special skills on how to look after our clients. We call in a child or close relative of the person admitted to the rehabilitation centre for a few weeks and train them on how to care for the patient. As part of our benefits, there is an allowance that we give that constant attendant looking after the client. This allowance is given as long as the affected client is alive and is being cared for by that attendant we trained,” she said.
The vocational training programme at the WCRC in Bulawayo provides opportunities for training and skill enhancement to support career advancement.
Clients are taught how to sew, make shoes, detergents, wood and leather work and other projects that will enable them to earn a living when they return home. To address destitution which was befalling a considerable number of grossly disabled pensioners, Nssa now provides rural dwellings, ablution facilities and portable water to those who reside in rural areas.
The workers’ compensation rehabilitation programme also aims to take traditional therapy a step further. The authority teaches compensatory strategies, which allow workers to return to work to achieve the same outcomes but in different ways.
One such strategy is performing a task sitting down instead of in a standing position or shifting their weight often to reduce the strain on their lower back. – @NyembeziMu.
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