Finalist in the 2004 Financial Mail Age of Innovation and Sustainability Awards.

Many children are born with disorders such as Spina Bifida or various other medical problems that might result in bowel and/or urine incontinence.

Incontinence can be described as the inability to empty the bowels and bladder voluntarily, which in turn leads to infections. This inability leads to leakages taking place and might result in the child having to make use of nappies to prevent any discomfort or mishaps from taking place. These nappies are extremely expensive and out of reach of our disadvantaged children. The wearing of nappies is also damaging to their human dignity and self image.

In 2001, the senior occupational therapist at Muriel Brand School, Mrs Phyllida Kok, initiated an incontinence programme at the school. The aim was to teach young children (from the age of three years) to manage their urine incontinence through the use of a catheter at two to three hour intervals. The bowel incontinence is managed by means of a Coloplast rinsing technique which empties the bowel two to three times a week.

That was the birth of the Muriel Brand School Incontinence Clinic, with the financial aid of the Afrisun East Rand Community Trust, who provided the funding to create the hygienic facilities for the incontinent children of the school.

An ever increasing number of children with incontinence was referred to the school. By 2006 more than 30 children were using the clinic. Managing the clinic had become a full-time job. The school had to appoint a staff nurse from its own funds to manage the clinic. The school was very grateful when later in 2006 the Gauteng Department of Education agreed to appoint the staff nurse, Mrs Daleen Morgenrood, to an additional state funded position.

Today these children have become independent and knowledgeable in the management of their incontinence problem. This is done with dignity and the school has had many successes in this field. More than 40 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years are now using the clinic.

The incontinence programme followed is acknowledged as an excellent example of best practice in this field. Mrs Kok has been invited to present the programme as a guest lecturer at various institutions, including various other schools and also at the University of Pretoria.

Incontinence need not be an insurmountable problem!

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