ASFA Physio Centre - the final mile!

THE NEW ASFA PHYSIOTHERAPY CENTRE IS NOW OPEN!

We are delighted to announce that the ASFA Physio team and inpatients moved into their new centre on 1st August 2020! 

Please click on the YouTube link below to see the life-changing work at ASFA Physio and enjoy a glimpse of Rwanda too!

Augustine and Mugisha, pictured left above, moved in with the other paediatric inpatients and their carers as part of Stage 1 of a phased move. Stage 2 involves finishing the interior works so we can scale the centre to capacity, fit solar panels to the roof so the team can have hot running water for the first time and deliver more specialist physio equipment from the UK.

Pictured below, is the main inpatients corridor looking towards the outpatients department. It needs a few pictures and a clean but the natural light is wonderful! It is perfect for wheelchair games don't you think?!

This next photo is of the front exterior of the building. It shows the main entrance and outpatients department to the left and the inpatients department to the right. The inpatients wing has four paediatric dormitories with night duty carer accommodation between dorms, two large therapy rooms, bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, laundry and residential carer accommodation. There are three big water tanks to collect rainwater which will supplement mains water when needed. (Yes, we actually have mains water and electricity too!!)

It's hard to believe that just under 12 months ago the village community came out in force to help excavate the site. 

Construction moved at a break-neck Rwandan pace thanks to project manager, Jean Dusabe and the amazing Medetec construction team. Up to 130 men and women labourers were on site for much of the build, mainly recruited from the local community.

We had a fabulous variety of construction challenges along the way (!) starting with unprecedented rainfall (climate change ensured it rained almost daily for about eight months!) which caused major havoc with transport and drainage. Raw material prices increased (especially cement) due to the Rwanda/Uganda border closure and just when we thought we could almost relax, along came COVID_19! Construction had to stopped entirely for seven weeks and governement requirements forced the closure of the centre so all children and staff had to return home.

Despite the additonal cost, we chose to retain all ASFA Physio staff on full pay during the Covid lockdown in addition to paying return travel costs, additional rent and some PPE.

The net result of all this disruption? Unfortunately, we went over budget by approx. 25% and therefore really welcome your help to complete this life-changing centre.

As of April 2021, we are:-

• Painting signage to erect throughout the centre.
• Painting murals inside to brighten up the dorms, dining room and therapy rooms to put a smile on the childrens faces each day.  
• A 40ft container of specialist physio equipment has just been shipped from the UK by PhysioNet so ASFA Physio will have equipment fit for pupose for the next 4-5 years and we can begin to scale the centre to capacity.

• Install solar panels so the children and staff have hot water - especially important during these COVID times.
• Transport the physio equipment from Kigali to Muganza.
• Complete the sensory garden at the centre.

As our motto goes...

"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito".

We are all volunteers so every penny goes to the project and really does make a difference. Please join us on the final mile of this life-changing project and if you are able, think about making a donation, no matter how big or small.

ASFA Physio Centre is a game-changer for children like Emelyn below, her single father and the community that support them. Milestones can be slow for many disabled children but they can reach their potential with a little bit of help. 

Thank you so much for reading about our project and please do contact us if you have any questions.

Team MAD 4 Africa