What we take for granted...

I recently had the opportunity to visit a home in Matimatolo with our ECD Coordinator. This was an impromptu decision as I happened to be out in the community meeting with her and was asked if I had time to go and see a little 3 year old girl who had had a stroke in November 2010 and was now having difficulty walking and using her left hand.

I went to the home wondering why the Family Facilitator concerned had not referred the child to the clinic to see the therapists. After sitting down and speaking to the mother and the Gogo I was told that she had infact been to see the Physiotherapist at Greytown Hospital a couple of times and was told that there was no need to come back. This story distressed me as as an Occupational Therapist I could see that this child still needed therapy AND I know the Physiotherapists at the hospital well and I could not believe that they would have stopped therapy with this child.

It was awesome to be able to do an impromptu Occupational Therapy session with this family in their home, provide a home programme and refer the child on to the Therapists at Matimatolo clinic. I did however leave the home wondering what the whole story was so went to the hospital to investigate. When the child's file was located there was no record of any treatment recorded and thus it still remains a mystery as to who the child had seen. The whole experience has left me pondering how people are so different in their approaches to life. When I see a health professional I will take note of his/her name and ask many questions where as in cases such as these it is difficult to follow up as the family has no idea who saw them and what the diagnosis was. It reminded me that we need to encourage people to record the information and if it is not offered by the health worker/social worker/councillor that they have every right to ask.

The child has now been seen by the therapists at the local clinic and is to return next month for further treatment. I still wonder how many other children are out there that we have not come in contact with who have had the same experiences....

Excitement, Enthusiasm and Energy

Last week, a new group of students started the first week of their training at LETCEE.

It is so encouraging to see their excitement and eagerness to learn. The ladies had a fun week, and feedback at the end of their first week was very positive. They felt they had learnt so much, and are excited to return to continue their path of learning about ECD.

We can only hope this enthusiasm for gaining knowledge continues, and that they instill this in the children they teach.

Some of the students with some resources which they learnt to make.