World Occupational Therapy Day, 2022

“What matters to you” and not “what is the matter with you”

By Verah Mugambi

In the spur of a moment, life can change. This occurs every day to children and adults who get injured or develop health conditions that knowingly affect their ability to perform routine activities and navigate their daily lives.

With the help of occupational therapy, many of these individuals can achieve or regain a higher level of independence. When skill and strength cannot be developed or improved, occupational therapy offers creative solutions and alternatives for carrying out daily activities.

On the 27th of October every year, the world joins Occupational Therapists to celebrate World Occupational Therapy (OT) Day globally. Celebratory activities run for a week, from 25th to 28th October annually. The week promotes the mission and goals of OT and also increases awareness of Occupational therapists and their global impact.

This year’s theme was OPPORTUNITY+CHOICE=JUSTICE interpreted as Empowering everyday life. Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Occupational Therapy Unit, together with representatives from various hospitals and institutions came together to commemorate World OT Day.

The day started with a 5 kilometer walk which was flagged off at KNH’s Administration block by the Director Surgical Services, Dr. Kennedy Ondede.

The week saw the KNH OT unit become a beehive of activities, including a webinar about the hospital’s chosen sub-theme; “occupational therapy day and mental health”. The day’s activities included; the 5km walk, free disability screening, and registration with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities at the KNH information center grounds.

Mental Health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community (WHO, 2005).

According to Bonface Kaimenyi, KNH Occupational Therapist, Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and wellness through occupation. “Occupations refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to bring meaning and purpose to life.

Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with patients and communities to enhance their ability to engage in occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupation engagement. (WFOT 2012)”.

Who needs Occupational therapy?

KNH Occupational Therapist Mikie Baron: OT helps people of all ages who have physical, social, sensory, or mental/ cognitive problems. OT services are offered in: Hospitals, Schools, Community settings, Industries, Home settings, Geriatric homes, and Mental health settings. The process includes; Screening: which is all about understanding the patient’s problem and the goal of the therapy. Evaluation: involves checking the client’s understanding of the program and whether they are interested in the offered interventions and Intervention: where the client is helped according to their problem,” Mikie explained.

MAIN PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA

Director surgical Services, Dr. Kennedy Ondede flagging off the walk during the World OT day

Participants during the walk

PHOTO | CELINE KANG'ETHE

The Role of OT in Mental Health

KNH Occupational therapist, Binti Hamisi, expounded on the role of OT in mental health. Kenya is committed to implementing the comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2030. “When included in the task force, Occupational therapists can help in achieving meaningful progress toward better mental health in Kenya”, Binti explained.

“Occupational therapists help patients in their roles, routines, beliefs, and habits in their homes, work, or community environments. They do this by identifying patients’ capabilities, skills, and environment modification/adaption, work conditioning, work hardening, and advocating for the client.” Binti continued.

In mental health, OTs use the functional model of disability and the recovery model where they focus on what the patient can or cannot do. “OTs are health professionals who enable individuals to function to the best of their ability and engage in a range of meaningful and healthy occupations that can promote health, quality of life, and wellbeing.

Through the OT process, mental health clients are able to live life to the fullest. As OT we ask “what matters to you” and not “what is the matter with you”, Binti concluded.

Some of the conditions in mental health that benefit from OT include; personality disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities.

The Occupational therapy unit is located on the ground floor; tower block, opposite the Blood Transfusion Unit (BTU).

Some of the services offered include; Training functional independence in Activities of Daily Living e.g., feeding, dressing, toileting, and bathing, Sensory Integration therapy for children with processing disorders e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Training in delayed and regressed development milestones caused by cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, etc.,

Facilitation of oral and communication skills, driving assessment and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, Lymphedema and scar management, Hand Therapy, Adults Neuro-rehabilitation e.g., stroke, and Parkinson’s disease, and enhancing mental well-being to support performance and participation in occupations.