iNPA Africa Reach-out Project

The aim of Africa Reach-Out Project was to contact physical therapists working in Africa who were interested in neurological physical therapy. INPA aimed  to foster stronger links with physiotherapists in Africa, and to share ideas about the development of neurological physiotherapy practice, education and research.

In the run up to WCPT2017 in South Africa, INPA contacted all WCPT members in the Africa region (n=20) and received positive responses from 12 countries: Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria (INPA member), Zambia (INPA member), South Africa (INPA member), Namibia, and Sierre Leone.

INPA hosted  a networking  meeting at WCPT chaired by  Professor Judith Deutsch (USA)  with Ms Mariella Graziano (Lux) from APPDE (the Association of Physiotherapists in Parkinson's Disease Europe) .

WCPT SUDA Project and INPA

The WCPT SUDA project (http://www.wcpt.org/suda) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and runs until January 2018. It has four main objectives:
•    Strengthen and professionalise physical therapy associations in conflict affected countries (Mali, Niger, Senegal) where demand for physical therapy is high but supply is limited and underdeveloped:
•    Using WCPT standards to support three countries in improving physical therapist entry level education in order to advance towards WCPT accreditation;
•    Develop a WCPT policy paper related to physical therapy assistants (PTAs);
•    Augment Wheelchair Training within the physical therapy sector.

Physiotherapists in SUDA project countries have identified that they would prioritise and welcome specialist support to develop their knowledge and skills for working with people living with the effects of stroke and spinal cord injury.
INPA is keen to work with the SUDA project team to support the development of neurological physical therapy in SUDA project countries. INPA and SUDA believe that linking these countries with experts who can offer a long-term commitment to the people on the ground who are already doing the meaningful work, will put the needs of the local physical therapists, patients and health systems first, and will provide the necessary support to strengthen and develop neurological physical therapy.

link to INPA report WCPT Cape Town_BOARD July 2017

INPA Africa Reach-out Project

Sponsor: Ralph Hammond (UK)
Project lead: Betty Cassidy (Austria)
Project officer: Kelly Smith (UK)

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For further information and to express an interest please contact:
Elizabeth Cassidy INPA Africa Reach-out Project Lead and SUDA Liaison:
elizabeth.cassidy73@gmail.com