Service Provider List: Wheelchair Repair Service in Kigali

Service Provider Directory

Access to quality wheelchair repair services is essential for persons with disabilities in Kigali, Rwanda. With over 32,000 categorized persons with disabilities requiring assistive aids across Rwanda, having reliable repair and maintenance services ensures that mobility devices remain functional and users can maintain their independence. This comprehensive guide outlines the key service providers offering wheelchair repair services in Kigali, along with their locations and specialized services.

1. Angel Rider Wheelchairs Workshop

Located in Kagugu, Kigali, Angel Rider Wheelchairs is a non-profit organization that has become a cornerstone of wheelchair services in Rwanda. Founded by Steven Bailey and his wife along with friends from Utah, USA, this organization has been redefining mobility for children and adults with disabilities since its establishment.

Services Provided:

• Custom wheelchair manufacturing using locally available materials
• Wheelchair repair and maintenance services
• Spare parts replacement for broken wheelchairs
• Wheelchair fitting and assessment
• Customized wheelchair design based on individual needs and terrain
• Training on wheelchair usage and basic repairs
• Follow-up services for wheelchair users

The workshop employs well-trained mechanics who ensure that customized wheelchairs are made to fit individual needs and can be easily repaired when they break down. According to available information, it takes approximately two to three days to make one standard wheelchair at their facility. The organization builds, maintains, and distributes hundreds of wheelchairs each year for impoverished children across Rwanda. Their repair services are particularly valuable because they use both imported and locally manufactured parts, making repairs more accessible and affordable compared to fully imported wheelchairs.

2. University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) - Rehabilitation Department

The University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, commonly known as CHUK, is Rwanda's largest public referral hospital with 519 beds and has been operational since 1928. Located at KN 4 Ave, the hospital serves as a primary referral center and teaching hospital for the University of Rwanda.

Services Provided:

• Wheelchair assessment and prescription
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation services
• Wheelchair fitting for patients with mobility impairments
• Basic wheelchair repairs and adjustments
• Referrals to specialized wheelchair services
• Training for patients on proper wheelchair use
• Maintenance of hospital-owned mobility devices
• Support for patients with orthopedic conditions requiring wheelchairs

CHUK's rehabilitation department has recently benefited from specialized training organized by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre in collaboration with international partners. The hospital's physiotherapists, prosthetists, orthotists, and biomedical equipment technicians have received intensive training in wheelchair assessment, fitting, repair, and mobility orientation. This training was specifically designed to address poor wheelchair prescriptions and the increased number of damaged wheelchairs that remained unrepaired due to lack of specialized skills. The hospital provides services to ordinary Rwandans with community insurance, making it an accessible option for many.

3. King Faisal Hospital - Physiotherapy Department

King Faisal Hospital, located at KG 544 Street 10 in Kacyiru, Gasabo, Kigali, is one of Rwanda's largest referral hospitals. Established between 1987 and 1991 with support from the Saudi Fund for Development, the hospital spreads over 7.9 hectares and provides highly specialized medical care.

Services Provided:

• Comprehensive physiotherapy services
• Wheelchair assessment and prescription
• Rehabilitation services for orthopedic conditions
• Mobility aid fitting and adjustment
• Post-surgical rehabilitation requiring wheelchair support
• Professional Allied to Medicine (PAMs) services
• Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
• Neurological rehabilitation services

The hospital's Physiotherapy Department is headed by experienced professionals with expertise in healthcare management and rehabilitation medicine. The department provides both inpatient and outpatient services, ensuring that patients receive proper assessment before being fitted with wheelchairs or other mobility aids. King Faisal Hospital is accredited by COHSASA, a Cape Town-based accrediting body recognized by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare, ensuring high standards of care.

4. Kigali Chair Project

The Kigali Chair Project is an innovative DIY workshop initiative that addresses the critical challenge of wheelchair repairs in Rwanda. Many developing countries, including Rwanda, receive wheelchair donations from abroad, but once these wheelchairs break down, they often cannot be repaired due to the high cost of imported spare parts.

Services Provided:

• Building wheelchairs from recycled bicycle parts and metal scrap
• Repairing broken wheelchairs using locally available materials
• Teaching patients how to fix their own wheelchairs
• Providing low-cost repair solutions
• Upcycling old wheelchair parts
• Community-based repair workshops
• Sustainable wheelchair maintenance training

The project is based on a simple construction system designed to ensure that every patient knows how to fix their own wheelchair independently. This approach is particularly valuable in a country where spare parts for imported wheelchairs are expensive and difficult to obtain. By using old bicycle parts and metal scrap, the Kigali Chair Project makes wheelchair repairs more accessible and sustainable. The project works with hospitals and patients across Kigali to repair broken wheelchairs or build new ones from scratch, ensuring that mobility impairments don't become permanent barriers to independence.

5. Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) - Wheelchair Program

The Rwanda Biomedical Centre, through its Non-Communicable Diseases Division, coordinates a comprehensive wheelchair program across Kigali and throughout Rwanda. While not a single physical location, RBC works with various healthcare facilities throughout the city.

Services Provided:

• Coordination of wheelchair distribution programs
• Training healthcare professionals in wheelchair assessment and repair
• Quality assurance for wheelchair services
• Introduction of specialized wheelchair types including Cross Terrain models
• Partnership coordination with international organizations
• Wheelchair donation programs
• Maintenance and repair training for healthcare workers
• Mobility orientation services

RBC has been instrumental in organizing specialized training for physical rehabilitation medical experts in public healthcare facilities. The training, conducted in collaboration with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, and the Rwanda Union, focuses on enhancing capacity to assess, fit, and repair mobility aids for persons with physical disabilities. The program has introduced advanced wheelchair models, including the new Cross Terrain wheelchair, a foldable hybrid designed for rough terrain, which is particularly suitable for Rwanda's hilly landscape. Since 2015, the number of categorized persons with disabilities needing assistive aids has grown from 17,000 to over 32,000, demonstrating the critical importance of RBC's coordination role.

Access to wheelchair repair services in Kigali has significantly improved in recent years through the combined efforts of non-profit organizations, teaching hospitals, and government programs. These five service providers offer a range of services from basic repairs to comprehensive rehabilitation support, ensuring that persons with disabilities can maintain their mobility and independence. Whether you need a complete wheelchair assessment, spare parts replacement, or training on how to maintain your wheelchair, these providers offer accessible and affordable solutions tailored to the Rwandan context.

For individuals seeking wheelchair repair services, it's recommended to contact these providers directly to determine which services best meet your specific needs. Many of these organizations work collaboratively, so referrals between providers are common, ensuring that every person receives the most appropriate care and support for their mobility needs.