• Health

Physios at Hand – a helping hand

Rivaldo Kavanga and Jeanette Diergaardt

Physios at Hand was established in 2012 by dynamic duo Lindi Christensen and Martelize Strydom, who both graduated from the University of Pretoria.

They wanted to create a nurturing environment knowing that if, are cared for they can better nurture their patient.

“At the time of the start of our practice we were both relatively experienced. We knew in which direction we were heading and wanted to start a practice where we could come to a good and safe working environment every day,” Christensen says.

Women power

The practice currently has five employees, namely four physiotherapists and one practice manager, all of them female. Christensen says it was never intentional to run an all-female practice and that they just found themselves in an all-female working space.

“We have wonderful male physiotherapy colleagues that we often work with,” Christensen adds.

Christensen says all the employees relate to and understand one another.

“When my sister, who is an engineer in a male-dominated company, has to leave early to take her child to the doctor, the men in the practice say, ‘Ooh, what a nice life to work half-day.’ When we have to leave early, we say to each other good luck, we know the shift with the kids is just as tough.”

Doing what it takes

Starting up a physiotherapy practice is not as easy as just completing your degree and then setting up an establishment. You will first be required to gain your Bachelor Of Science degree, register with the Health Professions Council of Namibia, complete a one-year internship and only then are you qualified to start a practice.

The central goal of Physios at Hand is seeing their patients happy, healthy and satisfied. Christensen adds that their proudest moments are made up of small, immeasurable and invaluable moments when their patients are able to achieve something that is important to them, such as when a baby starts to crawl, when a husband can go home from hospital and walk into his wife’s arms, or when a mother can run her first half-marathon after having a mastectomy.

Christensen says the goal of Physios at Hand is to grow with their patients. “We want to continue playing a role in giving our patients the confidence and ability to make their lives easier and better,” she concludes.