Access and affordable and quality physiotherapy services could soon be achieved following a partnership between two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Kisumu.
Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET), a Kisumu based NGO and IISA Foundation, a Dutch organisation have collaborated to provide technical support in terms of training and quality improvement. In addition, the two organisations will also help with affordable loans to local physiotherapy clinics for services upgrade.
KMET Deputy CEO and Programmes Manager, Sam Owoko explained that KMET realised the limited availability of affordable physiotherapy services in the 80 franchise hospitals in the region hence the need for the support across 15 counties.
IISA Foundation also realised the gap in access to such medical services necessitating this intervention. The partnership has four players, KMET the NGO, KMET Sacco, IISA Foundation and the clinics.
KMET identifies, recruits, and proposes eligible physical rehabilitation clinics. These proposals are submitted to the IISA’s credit committee, who will analyse the loan application by the clinic.
Once a loan application is approved, the loan is provided through a local financial partner, the KMET Sacco.
In addition, KMET provides assistance in developing business and quality improvement plans according to the gaps realised in the physiotherapy services and offers continuous training for the physiotherapists.
Seven health facilities in three counties have already enrolled in the programme namely Jalaram Hospital in Kisumu, Oasis Doctors Plaza Kisumu, Image Fitness Centre Kisumu, Kisii physiotherapy clinic and Oasis Doctors Plaza Kisii and Migori physiotherapy clinic.
Owoko said the programme will help people with muscular aches, arthritis, need rehabilitation from serious injuries, women with expanded cervixes, children born with deformities and other conditions.
“We intend to bring services closer to the people. Kisumu for example, has lots of motorcycle accidents leading to injuries some of which require physiotherapy services. This is sometimes costly and it is something we seek to address,” he said.
The project incorporates a community component where community health volunteers will be trained to identify and refer patients that need physiotherapy services as well as be able to provide basic home-based care support to patients already treated.