A Kenilworth non-profit organisation is trying to bridge the gap between private and public health-care facilities when it comes to affordable rehabilitative treatment.
The Enable Centre opened at the beginning of October to help those who need rehabilitative care but can’t afford it and don’t want to endure a long wait at a public facility.
“Accessibility to private rehabilitative services and high-quality health care comes with an enormous price tag, making it inaccessible to the majority of the population,” said Enable Centre member and biokineticist Vishaan Makan, of Pinelands.
“This has a ripple effect on public rehabilitation facilities. Due to the heightened demand of rehabilitation, those with complex or minor conditions are forced to await treatment for extended periods of time, only to receive minimal and lower quality intervention thus elongating their rehabilitation period.”
Through a subsidised programme, the non-profit centre provided advanced services to all despite their means, he said.
Robert Evans, an academic representative for the Biokinetics Association of South Africa, said a group of young practitioners had come together and pooled their resources to make the centre possible.
There was a large disparity in care between the rich and poor in the country, and that shouldn’t be the norm, he said.
The centre deals with spinal injuries, amputations, brain injuries and complex bone fractures, along with the more common complaints, such as knee-and-back pains.
“The care is provided at an income-graded fee that ensures the client is only paying what they or their family can afford,” Mr Evans said.
People often made the mistake of waiting too long to start rehabilitation, making it harder, after several months had passed, to change nerve, muscle and bones structures, he said.
Stephanie Irons, an intern biokineticist from Rondebosch, said their approach combined expertise from multiple fields. “We use a science- driven approach to ensure our clients are getting the best treatment possible.”
