Special Olympics Namibia hosts screening for athletes
Health care for all
Since the establishment of the international organisation in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved has been growing, but many more are still in need of this type of support.
Special Olympics Namibia, an organisation that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities, recently hosted an Athletes Screening, Sibling and Family workshop at the Walvis Bay Multipurpose Centre.The organisation's national executive director in Namibia, Emilia Nzuzi, said the Special Olympics initiative offers athletes access to free health screenings and health information during local and international competitions.
"Healthcare volunteers present help people with intellectual disabilities receive adequate health care. The screening is conducted by medical health care professionals from both the public and private sectors that are accredited by Special Olympics International. Special Olympics Namibia is only accredited to run three disciplines of screening.
"The first discipline is 'med-first', which is a general check-up from the doctors who examine each athlete. The second discipline is called 'Special Smile', and this is where dentists who volunteered examine the athletes' teeth. The third one is called 'Health Promotion', and this is where we have a clinical director providing proper information on the type of food the athletes are to consume," she said.
Nzuzi highlighted that the workshop also included sibling and family engagement.
"Siblings are connectors of three groups central to our movement: the athletes, families, and the youth. Participants were provided with information on the importance of sibling relationships and opportunities for siblings to be involved in the organisation. Through Special Olympics, siblings can find a supportive community, a platform to share their experiences, as well as an opportunity to develop as leaders."
Background
Special Olympics is a global organisation that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organisation works with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year.
Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organisation has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.
According to Nzuzi, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
"Those activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship."