Rehabilitation to strengthen social ties

Since May 2016, the partnership between HI and the Zarqa Rehabilitation Centre in Jordan has helped include people with disabilities in communities.

Mohammad, who has spina bifida, performs his rehabilitation exercises | ©Oriane van den Broeck / HI

A centre supported by HI

The Zarqa Rehabilitation Centre in Jordan treats both local residents and people from the neighbouring Palestinian refugee camp. A large number of Syrian refugees now also live in the camp, which has led to soaring demand for medical care in recent years. Everyone can access the centre. HI covers the cost of rehabilitation sessions and transport for patients who are unable to afford it. They are given the mobility aids they need, including crutches, wheelchairs and walking frames. When a child has a wheelchair, he or she can move around independently and attend school.

Meeting the needs of patients

We assess patients’ needs upon arrival at the centre. HI’s teams also conduct home visits. Based on this assessment, patients are offered services including occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, orthopaedic fitting of prostheses and orthoses, psychosocial support and inclusive education. Some 200 patients are treated in this way every year. HI also offers the rehabilitation team specialised training to broaden their field of expertise.

Importance of group therapy

Group therapy sessions are one of the centre’s biggest successes. They give the most isolated patients the opportunity to meet other people with the same problems and to discuss them in a dedicated space. HI's goal is to motivate patients to continue with their rehabilitation. These discussions continue outside the centre and many patients have overcome psychological distress with support from peers.

Date published: 25/07/23