2.5 Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs enhance personal mobility. They are designed for people who cannot walk or have difficulty walking, enabling them to move around and participate in everyday activities [49]. According to the WHO, approximately 1 per cent of the global population, or 80 million people, require a wheelchair [50]. A significant proportion, around 65 million individuals, is concentrated in LMICs. According to the WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology, between 65 and 95 per cent of those who need a wheelchair do not have access to one [1]. Appropriate wheelchairs prevent the development of secondary complications that may occur from incorrect device provision, incorrect fitting and poor positioning, such as pressure injuries, fixed postural deformities and loss of function. 19

It is important to note that this report focuses solely on the number of wheelchairs being provided in LMICs as a measure of demand. It does not assess the appropriateness of the wheelchairs being provided, nor does it consider essential factors such as access to repair, maintenance, fitting, training and other critical aspects of service delivery, all of which are vital for ensuring the provision of an appropriate wheelchair. 20

19. An “appropriate wheelchair” as defined by WHO is a wheelchair that meets the following factors:

WHO emphasizes that inappropriate wheelchairs can lead to poor outcomes for wheelchair users, including decreased health and mobility, development of secondary complications – which in cases of people with spinal cord injuries and similar conditions can cause premature death – participation barriers, and/or wheelchair breakdown resulting in disruption in use and the growing prevalence of wheelchair graveyards. Wheelchair provision can only enhance a wheelchair user’s quality of life if all parts of the process are working well. This includes ensuring users have access to:

Personnel involved in each area of wheelchair provision, including funders, procurement and clinical teams, need to have the correct skills and knowledge, underscoring the importance of training for those involved in wheelchair provision. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals provides a comprehensive wheelchair provider certification programme which provides wheelchair providers with the minimum set of knowledge to assess and prescribe appropriate wheelchairs. Consulting wheelchair users in the region to ascertain appropriateness of services and products being used is critical. ↩︎

20.Readers must reference this report along with WHO’s guidance on provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings. Additionally, the report does not further segment demand into adult and paediatric wheelchairs. The report also does not differentiate between manual and powered wheelchairs, nor does it report on wheelchair accessories such as cushions or postural supports. ↩︎

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