By As South Africa marks Disability Rights Awareness Month—running from November 3 to December 3 under the theme “Creating Multi-Sectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society”—the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has highlighted its ongoing efforts to expand rehabilitation services, healthcare access, and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
The department emphasizes that access to specialized rehabilitation and assistive devices is fundamental to upholding the rights, dignity, and independence of individuals living with physical impairments, amputations, neurological disorders, chronic diseases, and trauma.
Through its Medical Prosthetics and Orthoses (MPO) programme, Gauteng Health provides vital medical hardware, including artificial limbs, braces, splints, and orthopaedic footwear.
Expanding Reach and Increasing Output
Recent operational data highlights significant growth in the provision of these life-changing devices. During the 2025/2026 financial year, the department issued a total of 51,866 prostheses, orthoses, and walking aids across the province. This marks a 23% increase compared to the 42,258 devices issued during the previous financial year.
The 2025/2026 distribution breakdown includes:
- Prostheses: 509
- Orthoses: 24,931 (with 4,542 provided directly through physiotherapy services)
- Walking aids: 26,426
For recipients, these devices offer practical benefits that extend far beyond physical mobility. By helping individuals regain independence, these tools support everyday activities, facilitate returns to school or employment, foster active community engagement, and reduce reliance on caregivers.
Decentralizing Specialized Care
Specialized prosthetic and orthotic services are anchored by four main hospital-based centres in the province: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and Tambo Memorial Hospitals. These hubs handle comprehensive care cycles, spanning patient assessment, design, manufacturing, fitting, maintenance, and device repair.
To bridge geographical gaps and cut down on travel costs and unnecessary patient referrals, Gauteng Health has decentralised select orthotic services. Currently, 20 hospitals alongside Tshwane Health District physiotherapy services assess, fit, and issue selected off-the-shelf supports, braces, and splints closer to where patients live.
Additionally, satellite MPO centres have been established at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Sebokeng Regional Hospital—backed by the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital centre. An active outreach programme further extends care directly into regional hospitals, local clinics, special schools, care facilities, and correctional service centres to reach vulnerable populations.
A Call for Multi-Sectoral Collaboration
While healthcare infrastructure remains critical, the department stresses that building a truly inclusive society requires cooperation across all societal segments. Government entities, healthcare providers, private sector partners, civil society organizations, and disability advocacy groups must work in tandem to eliminate systemic barriers.
The GDoH calls on local communities to honour the contributions, abilities, and rights of persons with disabilities, reinforcing the principle that disability should never restrict access to quality healthcare, education, employment, or community life. Guided by its patient-first ethos, the department remains steadfast in its mission to champion independence and ensure dignified support for all residents.
