FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lusaka, Zambia – 20th August, 2025
Physiotherapists Now Available Nationwide: ZAPD Calls for Safe Wheelchair Distribution
The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) wishes to announce the availability of trained physiotherapists and health professionals across the country to conduct wheelchair assessments and fittings.
This development is aimed at ensuring persons with disabilities receive mobility devices that are safe, effective, and empowering. ZAPD emphasizes that all wheelchair distributions must be carried out responsibly and in line with international best practices.
The Agency urges stakeholders and donors to consult qualified physiotherapists, the Zambia Society of Physiotherapy, trained technicians, ZAPD officers, or the Ministry of Health before purchasing or donating wheelchairs in order to procure devices that meet the required set standards.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs in Less-Resourced Settings (2008), safe wheelchair provision must include:
1. Comprehensive assessment by trained professionals to ensure the right fit for body size, posture, mobility, and functional needs.
2. Proper fitting and adjustment of wheelchairs.
3. User training in safe use, maintenance, and repair.
4. Ongoing follow-up services for sustainability.
5. Meaningful user participation in planning and delivery.
ZAPD further invites all businesses selling assistive devices to encourage their customers to undergo professional assessments prior to acquiring wheelchairs. By working together, stakeholders can prevent harm, promote independence, and ensure assistive devices truly meet the needs of users.
ZAPD calls on all partners to collaborate in advancing safe, accessible, and empowering mobility solutions that enable persons with disabilities to live independently and contribute meaningfully to socio-economic development.
The Agency would like to reiterate that compromising user health is not an option.
Issued by:
Frankson Musukwa
Director General
Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD).
