Community Based Rehabilitation - CBM Ethiopia

Summary

The video script from CBM Ethiopia highlights the plight of children with disabilities in rural Ethiopia, where misconceptions and lack of resources often lead to despair. It showcases the transformative impact of community-based rehabilitation workers (CBR workers) who identify and support these children, dispelling myths and facilitating medical interventions. The script tells inspiring stories of children gaining mobility, sight, and hearing, and their families becoming advocates for change, emphasizing the importance of education and hope in overcoming disability.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The script highlights the belief in rural Ethiopia that disabilities are often seen as God's will and a punishment, leading to a sense of hopelessness and despair among families.
• 📊 Ethiopia has a significant disabled population, with 16.7 percent of its population, approximately 14 million people, living with disabilities according to the Director of CBM Ethiopia.
• 🏞 In the Oromo region of Northern Ethiopia, children with disabilities are often left without support, struggling to fend for themselves.
• 😢 The emotional impact of disabilities is profound, with children facing challenges in school and at home, including bullying and a lack of understanding from their peers.
• 📚 The chances of children with disabilities attending school are slim, and for those who do attend, the dropout rate is high due to the lack of support and accommodations.
• 👩‍⚕️ CBM has developed a strategy involving the training and deployment of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers to identify and support children with disabilities.
• 🏠 CBR workers go house to house to identify children with disabilities and work with parents to understand and address their needs, dispelling myths about disabilities being a punishment from God.
• 👨‍⚕️ Medical intervention plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation process, with treatments helping to improve the conditions of children with disabilities, such as vision and hearing restoration.
• 👨‍🏫 The intervention not only includes medical treatment but also focuses on education and mobility training, helping children to reintegrate into society and continue their education.
• 🎓 The script emphasizes the transformative impact of the intervention, with children gaining the ability to read, write, and participate in regular school activities, and families experiencing hope and joy.
• 🌟 The intervention has empowered individuals and families to become advocates for change, dispelling the notion that disability is a curse and encouraging others to seek help and support.

Q & A

What is the general perception of disabilities in rural Ethiopia according to the script?

The script suggests that disabilities are a source of despair in rural Ethiopia, with a broad degree of hopelessness among those affected and their families.

What percentage of the Ethiopian population is reported to have disabilities?

According to Tigabu Gebremedhin, the Director of CBM Ethiopia, 16.7 percent of the population has disabilities, which translates to about 14 million people.

Why are children with disabilities in the Oromo region of Northern Ethiopia often left to fend for themselves?

The script indicates that due to lack of awareness and resources, many children with disabilities in this region are not receiving the support and assistance they need.

What challenges do children with disabilities face in terms of education?

The script highlights that children with disabilities have slim chances of attending school, and for those who do, the dropout rate is high due to various challenges such as not being able to keep up with their peers.

What is the role of CBM in addressing the issue of disabilities in Ethiopia?

CBM has developed a strategy for training and deploying community-based rehabilitation workers, known as CBR workers, to identify children with disabilities and work with their families to find solutions.

How do CBR workers approach the rehabilitation process with children with disabilities?

CBR workers first identify the children with disabilities, then engage with the parents to make them understand the potential for improvement and work together towards rehabilitation.

What misconceptions do some parents have about disabilities, as mentioned in the script?

Some parents, like Zewde Achenef, believe that disabilities are a punishment from God or result from ignorance, and they initially seek help from traditional healers rather than medical professionals.

What medical interventions are mentioned in the script for children with disabilities?

The script mentions the use of glasses to improve vision, surgery to repair a perforated eardrum, and other unspecified medical treatments that can help improve the children's conditions.

How does the intervention by CBR workers change the lives of children with disabilities and their families?

The intervention helps children with disabilities and their families see a way forward, offering hope and the opportunity to improve their conditions and participate in regular school activities.

What is the impact of the intervention on the community's perception of disabilities?

The script shows that the intervention has led to a change in perception, with disability no longer being seen as a curse, and families becoming agents of change, encouraging others to seek help.

What is the ultimate goal for children with disabilities after receiving the intervention, as portrayed in the script?

The ultimate goal is for these children to continue their education, improve their quality of life, and integrate into society with a sense of hope and self-worth.