Quadriplegics are persons that due to accident or disease lost full or partial use of all 4 limbs. All Quadriplegics require 24 hour ‘care’, most people cannot afford this and turn to institutions such as Ama Wheelies. Quadriplegics are paralyzed from the chest down and lost all control and function of both bladder and stomach.  The stomach is controlled by tablets such as Senokot and Dulcolax suppositories whilst the bladder is controlled through a catheterization system being either the conventional and painful system through the genitals or suprapubic and even Urostomy as bladder draining systems with all the expensive leg bags and night drainage bags associated.

Sitting in the wheelchair all day has further drawbacks firstly as the direct cause of pressure saws, however pain and discomfort of sitting in the same positional all day result in uncontrollable spasms, where the body still want to move and walk however with the spinal cord broken these movements resemble a epileptic fit. To prevent tablets in the form of Lioresal are prescribed however at the cost or R35 per tablet and escalating.

A Quadriplegics body is weakened from not standing and movement to clear toxins and often develop bladder and chest infections requiring constant use of vitamins.  Most medical items are not available from the government hospitals as it is forever ‘out-of-stock’ and must be purchased at dear prices requiring any Quadriplegic to spend a large proportion of his meagre income obtaining medical supplies.

Wheelchairs and wheelchair repairs is yet another concern for although the Government issue free wheelchairs it is tiny Chinese imports and not suitable for the average large South African rugby playing type male as suitable wheelchairs are priced on average at R60 000 each.

Quadriplegics medical problems are further compounded in that it is futile to turn to medical aids for help in obtaining monthly medicines, for  although medical aids help should you be hospitalized, most including the largest Medical Aid exclude any form of plegic patient from obtaining chronic monthly medicine! A concerning factor should you suddenly find yourself injured in an accident with a spinal injury.