Ministry of Social Affairs Helps Mishal Undergoes Therapy for Persons with CP
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana
MAKASSAR (March 29, 2023) -
Cloudy sky
covered Makassar City that morning when the roar of car engines was heard
approaching Wirajaya Center polyclinic building. Four adults got out of the car
and entered the polyclinic. One of them was holding a small child who looked
limp.
In the last three weeks, this activity has become
an almost daily routine at Wirajaya Center. They came from Makassar Center for
Social Welfare Education and Training (BBPPKS). They consisted of two officers,
two beneficiary family members (PM), and a young child who became PM named
Almahira Mishall Ramadani or who is familiarly called Mishal. It has been more
than a month since Mishal and her grandmother, Minneng, left their hometown in
Sinjai Regency for Makassar to undergo treatment at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Central
General Hospital (RSUP). When they first visited Wirajaya Center, they both were
accompanied by a relative who lives in Makassar and was accompanied by two
officers from BBPPKS Makassar.
Mishal is a five-year-old child with a spastic type
of cerebral palsy (CP). She was born at Sinjai Hospital by cesarean section on
June 15, 2017, with a weight of 2.7 kg. She had experienced a high fever at the
age of 10 months which caused her to be treated at the health center for three
days. As soon as her fever subsided, Mishal was taken home.
After a long time, Minneng began to feel that
something was wrong with her grandchild. Mishal does not experience the
development of children her age. She could not move freely, struggled to toss
and turn when lying down, was unable to crawl, and the muscles in her legs,
neck, and back often spasmed. Until now, Mishal has been unable to sit, let
alone stand and walk. Her verbal communication is far from other normal children her age. The way to pronounce something is still very stuttering and the
articulation is still unclear. However, Mishal understands when asked to
communicate, both verbally and nonverbally.
Minneng said that as soon as Mishal was born, her
father left home and her family. Her mother then married again and left Mishal when
she was two years old in the care of her grandparents.
According to the grandmother's testimony, she did
not allow Mishal to be brought because she was worried about the treatment this
child might receive later. “I'm worried, this child will become a burden for
them later. It's better if the stepfather is a good father, if not, it's a
pity. Raising a child like this is not easy, it requires special attention.”
Since then, Mishall's parents never visited her again, except when she
first left for Makassar to undergo therapy at the hospital. At that time, her
mother accompanied her to the house of a relative in Makassar. Three days
later, the mother returned to the village, leaving Mishal with her grandmother.
Mishal's family condition is far from
prosperous. Every day they only rely on the produce of a makeshift garden, and
even that must be shared with the people who help work on it. Of the seven
people who live in the same house as Mishal, none has a steady job. The
grandfather as the head of the family was no longer able to work due to
disorders of the spinal cord.
Minneng received information about the Ministry
of Social Affairs from a mother who was also accompanying her child (a person
with CP) to undergo therapy at the hospital. She said, 'Ask for help from the
(Ministry of) Social Affairs. I am also assisted by MoSA'."
With the help of Sinjai Regency government, Mishal
case was finally monitored by BBPPKS Makassar. Mishal and her grandmother were
then taken to BBPPKS Makassar office to receive residential services. Mishal
and her grandmother will live in a dormitory within BBPPKS Makassar environment
while undergoing therapy.
Of Mishal's condition, Makassar
BBPPKS considered that while undergoing drug therapy at Wahidin Hospital,
Mishal also needed physiotherapy services. Therefore BBPPKS invited Wirajaya
Center to collaborate.
Mishal is classified as a cheerful and very
friendly child. “She loves to laugh. Whoever calls, she will smile,
"said Minneng.
In contrast to other children with CP who often
screamed in pain when their muscles were being treated, Mishal laughed
out loud more often during physiotherapy, especially when the physiotherapist
made fun of her. Her funny and crisp laughter colors every therapy session. The
giggling sound typical of a child's adorable that dispelled the gloomy
atmosphere like a beam of sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky. Even when the
sky was bright, the excitement that was captured by Mishal's smile and laughter
made Wirajaya Center polyclinic feel
cheerful.
After almost a month of undergoing
physiotherapy, Mishal was able to sit up even though she still needed support
because her back and neck muscles were still weak. Her right hand which used to
be stiff was now able to grip. Her legs, which used to be crossed and stiff,
were now able to move.
"Thank God, now there have been many
changes. It's different from the therapy places we went to before,” said the
grandmother. She also hopes that her grandchild can recover and live life like
other children. "This child can still exist to this day, which means God
has the best intentions for her," she continued.
The family's hopes for Mishal's future are
starting to reawaken. For this reason, Minneng remains enthusiastic about
bringing Mishal to undergo physiotherapy throughout the month of Ramadan.
"At the beginning of the fast, we returned to the village. The first
Monday of the fasting month, we will come back here for therapy," said
Minneng excitedly.
Apart from physiotherapy, Mishal will also
receive aid in the form of HKAFO (Hip, knee, ankle, and foot orthoses) from Wirajaya
Center. These tools will help support and stabilize the muscles in the spine
and hips, also help control spasticity in the knees and prevent contractures in
the ankle joints. The primary purpose of using this tool is to help the patient
stand up by re-functioning the weak muscles.
Of course, no one wanted Mishal's joy to fade.
Therefore, all parties involved are expected to remain solid, and diligent, and
never get bored for the sake of social welfare for Mishal and her family.
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