Delivery to those with disabilities
From her wheelchair a mother of two now helps others with similar needs
EDWINA Makgamatha knows first hand the struggles and shame of not being able to access services because of a disability.
This is why she decided to open a business that helps those disabled like her to easily and comfortably access medical supplies like catheters in the comfort of their own homes.
The 33-year-old started her company, Thusanang Enabling Support Services, after she became disabled a few years ago. The company supplies catheters nationwide at the doorsteps of the disabled.
Makgamatha became wheelchair-bound after a car accident and realised the great need for the home delivery system when she could not easily find a replacement catheter.
“After I was released from the hospital, I needed a new catheter. Most people don’t know what size their catheter is or where to get it. You move around pharmacies and you have to demonstrate to them to show your catheter size. “That’s embarrassing because by the time you go looking for a new one, the one you have is old. That is what got me to saying ‘now that I know how to get these things, can I not make it accessible for everyone?’”
Makgamatha said instead of delivery of the medical supplies to post offices she chose the home delivery system because it’s more comfortable for people with disabilities.
“This service is run by a person with a disability who understand the challenges better. We understand exactly what the other person is going through. So we make sure we deliver items to their doorsteps. Disabled people are all about service. You cannot deliver at the post office because that is inaccessible to them,” she quips.
The company also gives their clients advice on how to avoid infections and how to deal better with their disabilities.
Makgamatha said she has always wanted to do community work but that was accelerated when she was involved in two accidents – one of which left her disabled.
The first accident was when she was 21 years old and doctors informed her that she would never have children after she broke her pelvic bone.
“At that point, I was not ready for children but when doctors said I could never have them I was sad. The minute they told me that I felt this void inside,” Makgamatha said.
Two years after the accident, Makgamatha had her first son. A year after that, she had her second son. “I was so excited. I can’t describe that feeling,” she said.
But the happiness of her miracle children was soon crushed by the second accident – a hit-and-run by a drunken driver which left her with a broken spinal cord.
Through witnesses they managed to trace the driver and open a criminal case; he was never arrested.
She said: “In the beginning it used to make me bitter because justice was not served. I felt bitter in the first year but I realised it’s not going to serve me any joy to do that. I let it go.”
And in letting it go, she was able to concentrate on healing and living an independent life.
Reminiscing on her time recovering in hospital, Makgamatha said it was heartbreaking. She spent over three months in a rehabilitation centre in Pretoria and despite news that she would never walk again, she chose to remain positive.
“There was a lady who shared a ward with me. She was way worse than me. She was a quadriplegic, a diabetic and had high blood pressure. All she wanted to do was have an arm move so she could brush her teeth properly. That’s it. That’s all she wanted. That uplifted me,” Makgamatha said.
And it was at that moment that she made a commitment to live an independent live and not feel sorry for herself.
After months of rehabilitation she was surprised at how the outside world was not suited to her needs as a newly-disabled person. First, she had to move out of her second-storey flat because she could not access it.
“Being discharged was challenging because South Africa is not by far an accessible place (for disabled people). It is difficult, I was one of those that left the rehab rehabilitated. I was confident and wanted to go out there and live life, but you go to the mall and there are stairs everywhere and you have to ask people for help,” she said, adding that this is one of the most demotivating things for disabled people.
She also had to readjust caring for and nurturing her young children.
“We found ways. If I wanted to play with them I would put them on my lap. The big one would push me and move around the yard. It was heartbreaking. With disability you always find ways to make these things happen,” she said.
Makgamatha is now fully independent and running her business and says this should be the norm and not the exception.
“We need full integration into society. People are not aware about disability in general; not only physical but all the other types like being blind or deaf.”
She said all disabled people want to do is to participate fully in society.
“There are a lot of challenges for a lot of disabled people. They don’t get hired for what they are worth. They are given jobs at call centres. There are a lot of qualified people out there. “Can they be hired for what they are worth? Can workplaces make those offices accessible?
“Ergonomics (the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them) is very important, you need to be comfortable and be accommodated,” she said.
She spent over three months in a rehabilitation centre in Pretoria