Students give girl, 8, the freedom of walking
Fitting artificial limbs initiative praised for positive impact in ORT
Despite not having official accreditation, students studying towards a BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) are still having a positive impact in the community.
One community member to receive help from the students is Aphelele Diwu, an eight-year-old girl who was born without a right leg.
Her uncle, Sihle Diwu, told the Daily Dispatch that Aphelele’s name had been on a Frere Hospital list for an artificial limb since 2016, but nothing had come of it.
Sihle said his niece’s fortunes changed when Aphelele received a call from the Bedford Hospital near Ngcobo, informing him that WSU students would fit his niece with a limb at no cost.
This was the work of WSU’s level 2 to 4 students who, as part of their practical work, have to make actual fittings.
Earlier this month, the Dispatch reported on the uncertain future the 74 currently registered students face, as the institution had not been accredited to offer the degree since 2013.
Despite not being accredited to offer the degree, WSU students have been fitting limbs for needy people around the OR Tambo district for some time.
Official records, seen by the Daily Dispatch, reveal that 35 amputees have already benefited from the initiative.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Sihle said news that Aphelele would receive an artificial limb came as a big surprise, as the family was starting to accept that little girl would go through her life without one.
This was after the family was told they would have to raise around R70,000 if they wanted a limb for the young girl.
The thought of having a niece who was unable to play like other children her age was sad for the entire family, Sihle said.
“It took time for her to adjust [to the prosthetic], but she is learning and we are receiving a lot of support from the university.
“Aphelele now has an active lifestyle as she runs and is able to play outside with other children. I can never be grateful enough to the university and to the hospital.”
The fittings were largely enabled by a R500,000 grant given to the university by the Australian government earlier this year to manufacture artificial limbs for needy people around OR Tambo.
Last month the Australian monitoring and evaluation team visited the university to evaluate progress.
An Australian government evaluation team member in Africa, Chazireni Bobo, said they were happy with the progress made by the students.
“We received an application for a grant, and through a serious interrogation, we felt it was a feasible project and a necessary project to fund, and by those merits the grant was approved.
“When we visited the university we saw that the work was being done and it’s impressive,” said Bobo.
Speaking on the future of the qualification, WSU university spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo said the institution was still hopeful they would solve their accreditation issues.
“We are still in consultation with the council for higher education and we have confidence that we will find each other,” said Tukwayo...
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