Ethiopia: New physical rehabilitation center goes operational in Jigjiga
A physical rehabilitation centre which was built in Jigjiga town, Somali Region, with technical and material support of the ICRC was inaugurated.
The centre will provide physical rehabilitation services, to persons with physical disabilities (PWDs) living in the region.
According to Francois Friedel, Physical Rehabilitation Project Manager with the ICRC, PWDs in need of prosthetics, calipers and wheelchairs will get access to rehabilitation starting from January 2020. The Center was inaugurated by Mr Adam Farah, Vice President of the Somali Region.
The staff of the centre demonstrating prostheses cast modification. Zewdu Ayalew / ICRC
The centre will receive and treat up to 50 persons per month during the first year in 2020. While at full capacity by 2021, it aims to treat 80 to 100 persons monthly on average.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Abdikadir Hashi, Head of Somali Region Labor and Social Affairs Bureau, stated that the establishment of the Center in the region will have paramount importance in helping persons with disabilities to avoid travelling to distance places looking for physical rehabilitation services.
Invited guests and local communities attending the inaugural ceremony. Zewdu Ayalew / ICRC
The ICRC will continue its support of training professional manpower and providing raw material to the newly established centre, says Francois.
The ICRC in Ethiopia is providing material and technical support to nine other physical rehabilitation centres existing in different parts of the country to promote equal access to quality and sustainable rehabilitation services to PWDs.
