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An evaluation of community based rehabilitation of persons with special needs in Zimbabwe.
Abstract
The Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is emerging as an effective
way of rehabilitating persons with special needs. The Zimbabwean CBR
programmes follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) model that
focuses at involving the family, members of the community, community
leaders for example chiefs and councilors, local authorities traditional
healers (n’angas) rural health center nurse, schools, teachers,
headmasters, support groups, voluntary workers, youth group, church
groups and charity organisations. In Zimbabwe the development and
spread of Community Based Rehabilitation has often been credited to its being a culturally sensitive, a low cost approach to disability because of the use of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). These local people will help in achieving goals in CBR more effectively as they are part of the community and therefore understand the norms and values of their community, they also understand the problems and shortcomings of their people and generally get the community to be receptive to the project. The person with a disability, who is once considered a liability is enhanced in becoming an asset. The successful adjustment of people with special needs to community living therefore depends on a number of factors, including the availability of vocational opportunities, continuing education programmes, adequate housing, medical service, support systems, and access to public transportation and buildings. The availability of appropriate services within the community permits a greater opportunity for the person to achieve what has become commonly referred to as ‘normalisation’. In Zimbabwe, where the CBR has been introduced, its implementation, organizational forms and impact have often been questioned.
way of rehabilitating persons with special needs. The Zimbabwean CBR
programmes follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) model that
focuses at involving the family, members of the community, community
leaders for example chiefs and councilors, local authorities traditional
healers (n’angas) rural health center nurse, schools, teachers,
headmasters, support groups, voluntary workers, youth group, church
groups and charity organisations. In Zimbabwe the development and
spread of Community Based Rehabilitation has often been credited to its being a culturally sensitive, a low cost approach to disability because of the use of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). These local people will help in achieving goals in CBR more effectively as they are part of the community and therefore understand the norms and values of their community, they also understand the problems and shortcomings of their people and generally get the community to be receptive to the project. The person with a disability, who is once considered a liability is enhanced in becoming an asset. The successful adjustment of people with special needs to community living therefore depends on a number of factors, including the availability of vocational opportunities, continuing education programmes, adequate housing, medical service, support systems, and access to public transportation and buildings. The availability of appropriate services within the community permits a greater opportunity for the person to achieve what has become commonly referred to as ‘normalisation’. In Zimbabwe, where the CBR has been introduced, its implementation, organizational forms and impact have often been questioned.
