Summary

Malamulele Onward is a non-governmental organization established in 2006 that provides rehabilitation services to children affected by cerebral palsy in remote and rural areas. They also provide training to support caregivers and parents of children affected.

Program goals

Malamulele’s overall goal is to ensure that children with cerebral palsy living in remote rural areas access appropriate therapy and support structures to develop to their optimal potential. The organisation is committed to:

• Providing hands-on therapy to the children to enable them to reach their potential and/ or to minimize the devastating consequences of a lack of therapy.
• Training caregivers living in remote areas.
• Supporting and strengthening local hospital and clinic based rehabilitation services.

Malamulele emphesises the need to provide quality care to children affected with cerebral palsy and empowering parents to take charge of their children's wellbeing. 

 

Key program components

In South Africa there are a number of children who require therapy, and the need does not match the resources available to provide therapy to children with cerebral palsy especially in rural areas. Thus, Malamulele Onward offers the following services:

• Outreach visits to rural areas

• Increasing and strengthening local capacity by training parents

• Improve clinical skills and address skills shortages by providing training mid-level staff

The course provided for occupational/physiotherapists covers the following areas:

- The main types of cerebral palsy

- Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS)

- Setting goals according to the type of CP and the GMFCS level

- Working effectively and respectfully with carers

- Cortical visual impairment including treatment ideas

- Basics of safe eating and drinking

- Incorporating play and communication into daily routines

- Postural management, including making simple equipment

• Providing customised, assistive devices
• Providing follow-up support to therapists