SUCCESS STORIES
During 2019 PhysioNet made 14 direct container shipments to 7 different countries around the world. Additionally, we made 10 ‘third party deliveries ie, equipment supplied to other charities to augment their own needs. Items exported included special needs, wheelchairs, mobility items, commodes, bathing stools and medical items.
In collaboration with the Margaret Carey Foundation, PhysioNet is a regular supplier of wheelchairs to HMP services where they are repaired and returned ready for shipment. This repair service forms part of a restorative justice system for further education and vocational programmes helping to rehabilitate offenders in the United Kingdom.
Physionet shipments have reached the following countries so far:
SOUTH AFRICA
FIJI
BENIN
GHANA
SWAZILAND
UGANDA
MOLDOVA
DR CONGO
SRI LANKA
SAMOA
TANZANIA
ZAMBIA
INDIA
THAILAND
BULGARIA
ECUADOR
LESOTHO
MALAWI
SYRIA
UKRAINE
TRINIDAD
ZIMBABWE
ROMANIA
GAMBIA
KENYA
CAROLINE
Josephine lives in Rwanda. She is in her late 40s. She had a stroke a couple of years ago. She was desperate to see something outside her four little walls. She was sitting in a chair indoors all day. She cried at the thought of us looking for one for her and here she is!
CAROLINE
TARA
Tara is a smiley 3 year old who lives in the Special Needs Unit at New Life Homes Kenya. In the picture she is celebrating her birthday. Her only seating option was an old push chair which didn’t support her properly. This kept her in a low position so she couldn’t interact with the other children. Now in her new chair, supplied by Physionet, she is correctly positioned and her posture is much better controlled. She is at the same level as the other children and so is able to engage with social activity around her. The attached tray means she can have toys placed within reach. Improved posture and height also means that feeding is easier for her caregivers.
Wesley
Wesley lives with Tara in Kenya and is a lanky 15year old. His weight and height was making it increasingly difficult for his caregivers to lift and transfer him. It wasn’t comfortable for Wesley and carried safety risks. Thankfully a second-hand hoist had been donated but staff needed an experienced physio to train them in its use. Physionet’s Heather Angilley was able to provide that training on site; now Wesley can be safely and effortlessly transferred. What’s more, Wesley loves the hoist and enjoys the sensation of being lifted in comfort.
PETER
Peter is a 13 year old with cerebral palsy. All limbs are affected and he cannot speak although he understands all that is said to him. He lives with his mum and grandma who care for him when he is not in day care. His mum gets up in the night to turn him. He receives a wheelchair from the government every 3 years and a pair of shoes every year. He likes to walk but is unable to do so without full support. Physionet supplied a walker which his mum feels will improve his quality of life. She said he smiled all the time he was trying it out. He also took away a toilet chair kindly donated by Jenx in the UK and some positioning equipment to make him more comfortable in bed.
TIM
Tim Steele from Spalding donated eight items of equipment, including an all-terrain vehicle worth £8,000. This is the largest donation PhysioNet have received and we are very grateful. These were loaded on 6th April 2019 destined for Fiji.
MARIA BEATRICE CENTRE
PhysioNet received donations of specialist toys throughout 2017/8. These were included in the shipment to Romania in 2018. This enabled them to set up a toy library which enables families who attend the Maria Beatrice centre to borrow toys appropriate for the developmental level of their child free of charge.
YOUVIN
Youvin has cerebral palsy and could only be placed on the floor, which he didn’t like, or on his mum’s lap – because of his muscle spasms. The addition of a PhysioNet chair has given him another more comfortable position where he can be fed and see what is going on.