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amputated. The bilateral amputees end up in wheelchairs and dependent for longer
periods and need more rehabilitation and support. Use ofa wheelchair becomes difficult
as houses are rarely altered to suit free movement of wheelchairs. Clark (1999:51)
comments that for proper community reintegration bilateral amputees need ramps for
wheelchairswhich may have to be up to the front entrance ofthe building.
5.4 SECfIONC: HEALTH SERVICE INFORMATION
5.4.1 ITEM7 NATURE OF THE SERVICE
The inclusion ofthis section was to determine the availability ofrehabilitation services in
the community. and if these are available, whether are they adequately utilized by
amputees ornot.
FIGuRE 5.2 NATURE OF THE SERVICES
DHospitals
f1Rehabilitation
center
I [JCorrmunity
Rehabifrtation
HeaIlh Centrer
Figure indicates that (22) 88% attended the hospital, (2) 8% attended the
rehabilitation centre as compared to only (1) 4% amputee who attended the community
health centre. This indicates that the majority ofthe amputees attended the hospital rather
than the rehabilitation centres andthe community health services. The reason for this is
that. there are norehabilitation services within the community and the amputees therefore
returnto refeual hospitals. There is very little that the amputees get from the community
clinics. for instance. they could not get simple accessories like rubber tips for crutches.
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