29/7/2022
The ABC of neurological rehabilitation By Verah Mugambi In a snap, life can change. An injury, surgery, disease, illness, or decline in functioning because of age might make one in need of rehabilitation. This can happen to children and adults; it may affect the ability to even perform routine activities. Neurological Rehabilitation (rehab) is a doctor-supervised program designed for people with diseases, injuries, or nervous system disorders. Neurological Rehab can often improve function, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. The World Health Organization’s definition of rehabilitation states: “A set of measures that assist individuals, who experience or are likely to experience disability, to achieve and maintain optimum functioning in interaction with their environments” (WHO, 2011). At Kenyatta National Hospital, Neurological Rehabilitation is at the Occupational Therapy (OT) department which is located on the ground floor; tower block, Opposite the Blood Transfusion Unit (B.T.U). The clinic runs on Mondays & Thursdays morning; from 8.00 AM to 1 PM. Initially, it used to be Mondays only but after cases started rising, the department saw the need to schedule the rehab on Thursdays too. Newsline spoke with Mr. Japheth Asungu, KNH’s Assistant Chief Occupational Therapy department. “Occupational therapy is about promoting health, promoting functions after the injury, disease, etc.,” he explains. According to Asungu, a Neurological Rehab program is designed to meet your individual needs, depending on your specific problem or disease. Active involvement of the patient
and their family is vital to the success of the program. “The caregivers are very important when it comes to neurological rehabilitation. These are the husband, wife, sister, and friend; the patient’s support system. Remember this is a person whose life has changed and has to relearn everything.
ISSUE 16 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
The caregiver initially is always as sick as the patient since they also don’t know how to take care of the patient’s new condition. So, you have to involve them from the start,” Asungu emphasized. “The goal of neurological rehab is to help you return to the highest level of function and independence possible while
PHOTO | ELIJAH NG’ANG’A Japheth Asungu, a KNH Assistant Chief Occupational therapist during a Neurological rehabilitation session with a patient
5
