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Orthopedic Aid
Orthopedic Impairment Facts
- An estimated 30 million people globally have an orthopedic condition that impairs their mobility
- In the developing world, mobility impairment severely impacts educational and employment opportunities as well as general quality of life and even lifespan
- CBM provided orthopedic medical services to almost 400,000 people in the most recent full year
What causes Orthopedic Impairments?
Orthopedic impairments affect people universally but, as living conditions play a crucial role, the cases accumulate in developing countries. Clubfoot, one of the most common congenital deformities worldwide, affects at least one in every 1000 babies born. Malnutrition can be responsible for bone softening, resulting in angular bone deformity (severe "knock knees" or bow legs). Contraction of other diseases may cause polio, cerebral palsy, and tuberculosis of the spine. Poor living conditions, a lack of hygiene and a lack of medical care further increase the risk of orthopedic impairment.
How CBM helps
To prevent orthopedic impairments that result from preventable diseases, CBM focuses on health education, nutrition and immunization. This includes relatively simple procedures such as raising awareness of the importance of cleanliness, medical care, and nutrition for the development of strong bones; monitoring births to avoid conditions resulting from complicated births; and administering polio vaccinations to prevent polio and post-polio syndrome.
Where orthopedic impairment is already established, physiotherapy, surgery, and mobility aids (e.g. braces, walking splints, orthopedic shoes, and wheelchairs) can greatly improve the quality of life. CBM field workers provide rehabilitation programs for young children suffering from polio, cerebral palsy, and other diseases.
How You Can Help
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Prevention & Treatment
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities and social integration of all people with disabilities. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disabled people themselves, their families and the appropriate health, education, vocational and social services.
CBR is a community development approach that looks at the whole person, not just the impairment. It seeks to change and overcome challenges present in social and physical environment and enables people with disabilities to be as personally independent as possible. CBR also enables the disabled to have social relationships and live as part of their community, contributing to their own livelihood.
CBM field workers provide rehabilitation programs for young children suffering from polio, cerebral palsy, and other diseases. Crutches, braces and shoes aid in the child's mobility. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) in poor countries are too often left on their backs in dark rooms with no sunlight or stimulation. Parents don't know how to help their special child. A simple, locally-made CP chair gets these children sitting and looking around and their mental development takes a miraculous leap forward.
For older adults, CBM provides assistive devices such as wheelchairs and hand-pedal tricycles that provide mobility and, more importantly, freedom.
A Sample of Related CBM Projects
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