• Eight-year-old Sherifa, who lives with cerebral palsy, with a friend on their way home from school in Lilongwe District, Malawi. © CBM/Hayduk

Physical rehabilitation

Globally, an estimated 2.4 billion people are living with a health condition that may benefit from rehabilitation. Research indicates that early intervention is often more effective in improving health outcomes. But the need for rehabilitation is largely unmet: in some low and middle-income countries, more than 50% of people do not receive the rehabilitation services they require.

Ear surgery of a little boy

Inclusive Health Initiative Learn more about our approach

Physical disabilities can have dramatic effects on life – up to and including early death if left untreated. CBM works with its partners to prevent, cure or alleviate the effects of physical disabilities wherever possible.

Early intervention and holistic rehabilitation: CBM’s commitment to inclusive healthcare

CBM’s work in physical rehabilitation is holistic and aims to integrate all the treatment people need including assistive devices, surgery and rehabilitation.  

In most cases, intervention at a young age is more effective, so our partners do outreach and awareness raising work in local communities. We and our partners also advocate locally and nationally for rehabilitation to be integrated into all levels of healthcare as an essential service, aligned with the World Health Organization’s Rehabilitation 2030 initiative. 

 

Shalom was diagnosed with bilateral bowed legs at CoRSU Rehabilitation Centre in Uganda © CBM
Shalom was diagnosed with bilateral bowed legs at CoRSU Rehabilitation Centre in Uganda

Our approach

CBM and our partners work closely with communities and stakeholders to improve access to quality, inclusive health and rehabilitation services.  

  • Physical rehabilitation begins in the community, where our partners identify and refer children and adults who need treatment. Some rehabilitation activities can take place at home, as can the fabrication of some types of assistive devices.
  • Otherwise, children and adults are referred to CBM’s partner hospitals, rehabilitation centres and clinics for treatment, which could include physiotherapy, surgery, prosthetics, assistive devices or orthotics. Often, they can stay in on-site accommodation while they receive treatment.  
  • Finally, after treatment our partners support children and adults to return to their community and arrange follow-up visits to check on their progress. Where possible, they facilitate access to education and livelihood opportunities, for example through other projects offered by CBM and partners.  
  • Many of our partner clinics, rehabilitation centres and hospitals offer accredited training programmes for surgeons, or facilities for students to do internships, to share the models developed through our projects and contribute to strengthening health systems.
  • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs and lower limb prosthetics are provided by clinical as well as community-based projects to ensure persons with disabilities do not only have access to such devices but also to rehabilitation services, ensuring good quality in line with users’ individual needs.  

Our work in 2023

  • 193,765 people were reached with physical rehabilitation services

  • 8,379 operations were performed by our partners

  • 27,011 people received assistive devices

Project examples

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