I wanted to tell you about Menani, who is a 64 year old woman from Fiji, who is also a single mother of three adult children,
Menani has been managing diabetes since 2009, however as the disease progressed, in 2010, Menani had a below-knee amputation
After discharge, Menani managed at home using a wheelchair that had been provided to her
However due to the inaccessible built environment in her community, for example pathways, shops and buses with steps, Menani found she could not visit places she wanted to using the wheelchair
As a result, Menani found herself spending a lot of time at home, and dependent on her children
However, when Menani was referred to the Mobile Rehabilitation Unit, she was able to receive rehabilitation in her home,
This enabled her to mobilise safely, learn exercises to reduce a contracture in her affected leg, and give her the confidence to re-join her community. She was also successfully fitted for a prosthetic leg and supported to learn how to walk safely
Uniquely in the Pacific region, the Government of Fiji offers a multi-disciplinary Mobile Rehabilitation Service, which serves people with physical impairments in many communities across the country
The mobile service is currently led by a rehabilitation physician, and the team includes a nurse, Community Rehabilitation Assistant and Prosthetist & Orthotist
Rehabilitation is an essential component of Universal Health Coverage,
and fortunately in Fiji, thanks to the Government supporting both a rehabilitation hospital, a mobile rehabilitation service, and training of rehabilitation professionals, people like Menani can access the health care they need
Through rehabilitation, Menani, and other people in her situation, can experience a degree of independence that may otherwise not be possible without rehabilitation
In her own words, Menani says “ I do everything for myself now. I go everywhere, even to parties – everywhere”