by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (19 July) -- With only a wheelchair left after the clinic was razed to the ground on June 13, 2006, the Kaakbay Rehabilitation Center (KRC) is again servicing persons needing therapy and relief.

KRC director Michael Belilla in an interview said after ten days after the fire incident with all their equipment were burned, some kind-hearted donors put their clinic back to serve some 65 clients both children and adult.

He said one donor Marissa Enriquez, a physical therapist endorsed to the center some of her spare facilities while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD XI) provided them some P115,000 fund assistance to support their operation.

The KRC is among the agencies that showcased their services in the 12th Kakayahan Fair '07 at the Entertainment Plaza of SM City Davao.

Belilla said the KRC is support by youth therapists that started with five members and now has increased to 20.

He said the center undertakes occupational therapy services to persons with cases on Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Down Syndrome, Specific Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Sensory Perceptual Impairments, and Development Delays.

For physical therapy these includes persons with neurologic conditions such as stroke, bell's palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, traumatic brain injuries.

The musculoskeletal conditions refer to neck pain, low back pain, scoliosis, tendonitis, muscle strain or sprain, frozen shoulder. The orthopedic conditions are hip and knee replacements and factures.

The KRC he said uses different approaches to promote healing such as therapeutic exercise, heat, light, cold and ultrasound.

He said despite the attractive pay abroad, volunteers keep coming to serve the center.

He said that a therapist in the US are paid between $25 to $30 an hour compared here who are only paid with only P300 per session.

"The center is already part of our community service that is why those who are now abroad to practice their profession continue to support the center," he said.

Among those who continue to campaign for fund support and other facilities, are former volunteers now working in the US and Canada like Karl Axalan, Jeffrey John Andrion, Fayeh Rina Tabada, Victor John Rico, Mides Mae Dela Cuesta, Rubilyn Porticos, Rommel Ramos, Efren Pael, Fritz Quiao and Robert Laud.

He said they are now training a batch of volunteers who will assist the current staff manning the center.

The Kakayahan Fair '07 is supported by the Davao City Council for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Regional Sub-committee for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities-XI, the Davao City government, other GOs and NGOs.