Project Completed: May 2010

Our work with disabled children in Eastern Europe has shown what a huge difference physiotherapy can make both in a child’s recovery post-operatively and more generally in improving the health and functioning of children unsuitable for surgery or with life-limiting conditions. In addition, access to physiotherapy is often limited to those geographically close to main medical facilities. Even then, it is not easily available and vulnerable children are bottom of the line. Children living in rural areas are also severely disadvantaged in accessing support.

In 2008 we established a partnership with Fundatia Cuvioasa Paraschiva, a Romanian NGO working with disabled children in the Slobozia region of Romania. For two years F.R.O.D.O. funded a Community Physiotherapist to provide care to disadvantaged children living in rural communities.

Although this project has now finished, as part of the Treatment and Training project, F.R.O.D.O. continues to provide physiotherapy training and encourage closer professional relationships with physiotherapists, NGOs and other health care providers in Romania and Albania.

Through this project and our involvement with Child Protection Services, hospitals and other local authorities, F.R.O.D.O. has started to create an awareness of the benefits of physiotherapy, leading to local investment in the service and ensuring sustainability.