While the world commemorated this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Gauteng Department of Health made significant progress of its own, issuing more than 42,000 assistive devices in the first two quarters of the fiscal year as part of its efforts to build a more inclusive and supportive health system.
The department said it is intensifying efforts to ensure that inclusion is not just a slogan but a lived reality across the province. In the first two quarters of the 2025/26 financial year alone, ranging from wheelchairs, hearing aids, and walking aids to orthoses, podiatry devices, prostheses and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
According to the department, this large-scale rollout reflects a continued commitment to empowering persons with disabilities through tools that restore mobility, independence, and dignity.
“This figure translates to a 78% issue rate out of the 48,000 assistive devices on the register, demonstrating the commitment to ensure that persons with disabilities receive the necessary support and resources to improve their quality of life.”
The Department also announced its partnership with nonprofit and nongovernmental organisations to expand specialised rehabilitation services for visually impaired individuals within their communities.
“Through this collaboration, orientation and mobility specialists that are currently not available within our internal workforce structure assist in providing essential training and support to empower blind and visually impaired persons to regain independence and reintegrate into society,” it said.
Additionally, a total of 1,578 assistive devices were issued specifically to improve mobility and daily functioning for visually impaired persons.
“These include long canes (foldable and rigid), roller ball tips, money sticks, talking Braille watches, sunglasses, liquid level indicators, tablet dispensers, needle threaders, signature guides, and other tools,” the department added.
It further emphasised that these devices are life-changing, enabling individuals to navigate their environments safely, perform daily tasks with confidence, and participate fully in social and economic activities.
To strengthen care for children with special needs, the Department has established a Steering Committee to enhance service delivery at the Primary Health Care level through the One-Stop Clinic, Community-Based Centre of Excellence Model. This initiative aims to create a holistic and supportive environment for children with special needs and their families.
The Department said that by implementing this model in community health centers, it has expanded access to essential medical, educational, and therapeutic services directly into communities. This reduces the need for frequent hospital visits, enables earlier interventions, and ensures children begin treatment sooner.
The system also includes structured referral pathways and better access to specialised services, assistive devices, home-based care, mental health services, social services, caretaker support, stimulation centres and other community-based resources. Since its establishment, this model has achieved functionality scores of 80%, assessed through standardised evaluations and regular oversight visits.
The Department also shared that it has started enhancing access to medicines for children with special needs through the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) formulary, in line with the World Health Organization’s essential medicines list.
“This will ensure the availability of 22 approved OPD medicines tailored for children with special needs, further supporting their health, development and overall quality of life,” it stated.
The Star