Give burn survivors access to rehabilitation

Helping burn rehabilitation specialists in India 6

Sunshine Foundation initiated a three-year cooperation project in 2013 in Chennai, India to help a local organization set up a Care Center for women burn survivors. By training their staff in Chennai and holding internships for them in Taiwan, as well as providing continuous support through monthly SKYPE meetings, we are helping this local organization address an unmet need: provide comprehensive physical and psychosocial rehabilitation services for women burn survivors after hospital discharge.

From March 9 to March 13, 2015, the Sunshine team visited its partner in Chennai, the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), to assess the impact of the professional training and technical support given in 2014. During this one-week visit, Hsiu-Hsiu TU, Director of Sunshine Half-Way House, as well as Shih-Yuan HUNG, Occupational Therapist at Sunshine Rehabilitation Center, observed activities of the Care Center, carried out discussions with staff and provided technical advice and recommendations.

During this time, Shih-Yuan worked very closely with Jayanthi, who came to Taiwan in 2014 to learn about wound care and scare care, as well as Ananthi who works as a physical rehabilitation assistant. Jayanthi and Ananthi are like the two guardian angels that care for women burn survivors staying at the Care Center. Every morning, they help women do wound care using techniques that Jayanthi learned in Taiwan during an intensive two-week training and that she has shared with Ananthi. By looking at before-after pictures of wounds, it became obvious that last year’s training and Jayanthi’s efforts have paid off by improving greatly the condition of women burn survivors and ensuring a better recovery. And thanks to Ananthi who closely monitors and assists women burn survivors in following the physical rehabilitation program prepared by a therapist, better physical outcomes are achieved.

Although Jayanthi and Ananthi are not burn professionals by training, they have a strong bond with PCVC and they are committed to their work of improving the lives of women burn survivors staying at the Care Center. This is why throughout the week, they have been willing to work with Shih-Yuan and step out of their comfort zone to learn or try things they never did before. This started out with Shih-Yuan organizing two small courses for the women burn survivors of the Care Center: one on wound care and pressure garments, the other on scar massage. Although Shih-Yuan supervised the courses, the real teachers were Jayanthi and Ananthi, who explained the principles of wound care, why pressure garments are necessary after burns, what is the proper way to massage scars, etc. As teachers, they also lead practice sessions with clients. Later, Shih-Yuan taught Jayanthi and Ananthi how to make simple splints for clients.

For Jayanthi and Ananthi, this was a week filled with many “firsts”: first time they used a Powerpoint to make a presentation about their work at the Care Center in front of everyone, first time they were teachers in a training course, first time they made splints. Initially, they were extremely nervous and fearful of making mistakes, but slowly, they began to feel more confident in their abilities and they also were able to see the progress they have made over the last year. As their skills and confidence grow, they become more empowered, and they will be able to continue improving the care they give to women burn survivors at the Care Center.