Rehabilitation professionals trained on the evaluation and prescription of wheelchairs
- Posted on 22/03/2023 20:59
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: About twenty health professionals from the five (05) regions of Togo were trained and reinforced on 20 and 21 March 2023 on the evaluation and prescription of wheelchairs. The training took place at the National Orthopaedic Fitting Centre (CNAO-Lomé)
About
twenty health professionals from the five (05) regions of Togo were trained and
reinforced on 20 and 21 March 2023 on the evaluation and prescription of
wheelchairs. The training took place at the National Orthopaedic Fitting Centre
(CNAO-Lomé) and was financially supported by LDS Charities, a branch of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
According
to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, to prescribe a wheelchair to a
patient, two health professionals are needed: a clinician and a technician. It
is in this sense that CNAO-Lomé in collaboration with LDS Charities, a branch
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in the United States,
initiated this training for orthoprosthetic technicians.
Togo
must have in its rehabilitation centres, the two professionals for an efficient
collaboration in the care of people with physical disabilities. During the
two-day training, participants were equipped with the steps of service
delivery, the assembly of accessories, techniques for taking measurements,
mobility techniques and wheelchair hygiene. They were put in practical
situations to prescribe different types of wheelchairs. The professionals were
also instructed on how to get disabled people to orientate themselves, settle
and adapt in their wheelchairs.
For
Ali Cissé, Director of the physical rehabilitation centre of Cote d'Ivoire and
trainer, the field of rehabilitation requires versatility. « You can't
be in the field of rehabilitation and only be able to do one part or some of
the elements that are in rehabilitation. Those who come for physiotherapy may
need a wheelchair. The physiotherapist or ortho-prosthetist needs to be able to
prescribe certain walking or rolling techniques that contribute to the
patient's well-being and facilitate their mobility. This is of great interest
to both professionals and users », said Ali Cissé.
The
wheelchair is a medical device. It must therefore be prescribed by a medical
professional in the field of rehabilitation. This prescription ensures that the
user's needs are met by the technical aid he or she uses.
Arnaud
KONDO
