Occupational therapy helps restore patients’ dignity

KwaThema – The occupational therapy department at Pholosong Hospital is helping the injured find new ways of doing day-to-day activities.

Senior occupational therapist Busisiwe Mashava says her passion is to help people who have survived physical trauma actively participate in daily activities.

“Growing up I always knew I wanted to study medicine.

“One of my nieces has cerebral palsy.

“I always wanted to teach her to use those parts of her body that do function to do things like getting dressed.”

Occupational therapy aims to facilitate independence and functioning.

“In the hospital, I go into the wards to assess what patients are able to do for themselves even after they have been injured.”

Mashava says in early childhood intervention they assess whether a child is reaching developmental milestones.

“We look at reflexes, stimulation and abnormalities, especially in posture.”

She says there are many illnesses that can be detected through these assessments.

“We also deal with children who are suspected of having learning disabilities.

“The Department of Education takes our recommendations after we have assessed the children using different activities.”

Mashava believes her department helps restore patients’ dignity.

“We don’t want you to be a burden to those who look after you.

“If you have a stroke, we want you to discover what you can do, the new ways that you can use your body independently.”

Occupational therapy also helps people who live with mental illness to function within their societies.

“We want to remove the stigma attached to mental conditions, by giving the patients more information and teaching them how to take their medication.

“We teach the families how to help them.”

Mashava emphasises the need for patients to follow up and attend their appointments when they are referred for therapy.