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Red Cross spinal injury project in Bucharest, Romania
1International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, Switzerland.
Paraplegia
|August 1, 1993
Summary
This project improved medical care in Bucharest by training staff and involving families in patient support. Local resources were prioritized to enhance facilities and provide essential orthoses and wheelchairs.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Identified critical shortages in medical facilities, specialized drugs, and essential equipment in Bucharest in 1991.
- Noted scientific isolation of medical staff and lack of assistive devices like orthoses and wheelchairs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address deficiencies in medical care by leveraging local resources and improving existing infrastructure.
- To implement comprehensive patient care strategies, including staff training and family involvement.
Main Methods:
- Focused on utilizing local means and human resources to enhance existing facilities.
- Implemented staff training programs alongside practical patient care, emphasizing family participation in positioning, physiotherapy, and emotional support.
- Established an orthopaedic workshop for orthoses and supervised local wheelchair production.
- Conducted social assessments for patient integration and organized home visits for adaptation advice.
Main Results:
- Successfully established an orthopaedic workshop and initiated local wheelchair manufacturing.
- Enhanced patient care through trained staff and active family involvement in rehabilitation.
- Initiated social integration programs and provided home-based support for patients.
Conclusions:
- The project demonstrated a feasible model for improving medical care in resource-limited settings by prioritizing local capacity building and community involvement.
- Overcoming economic challenges is crucial for the sustained implementation of such initiatives.