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Bigirimana Ngamba J.-D.1, Imanishimwe H.2, Uwamahoro E.1, Uwamahoro C.3, Bizimana C.4, Adamu J.D.D.5, Romanow Pascal M.6
1Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council, Office of the Registrar, Kigali, Rwanda, 2Kabagayi Hospital, Physical Therapy, Gitarama, Rwanda, 3Gisenyi Hospital, Physical Therapy, Gisenyi, Rwanda, 4Kibuye Hope Hospital, Physical Therapy, Gitega Province, Rwanda, 5Kirinda Hospital, Physical Therapy, Karongi District, Rwanda, 6Misericordia University, Physical Therapy, Dallas, United States
Background: In April-May 2015, Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) administered a Leadership Institute in Kigali, Rwanda. The Leadership Institute was the final course in the Advancement of Rwandan Rehabilitation Services Project (ARRSP), which was implemented with the following goals:
provide professional development courses to upgrade rehabilitation standards and improve services; and increase awareness of physiotherapy in order to increase utilization of rehabilitation services and reach under-served populations. During the Leadership Institute, participants worked with groups on a project to increase awareness of physiotherapy, improve standards of practice, or for community outreach for prevention and management of injury and disability. Our group developed a project to create a website for physiotherapy.
provide professional development courses to upgrade rehabilitation standards and improve services; and increase awareness of physiotherapy in order to increase utilization of rehabilitation services and reach under-served populations. During the Leadership Institute, participants worked with groups on a project to increase awareness of physiotherapy, improve standards of practice, or for community outreach for prevention and management of injury and disability. Our group developed a project to create a website for physiotherapy.
Purpose: The purpose of the project was to develop a website to provide a platform to share information about physiotherapy with physiotherapists, other health professionals and the general public. The website should improve the availability of information about physiotherapy in Rwanda, as well as facilitate access to physiotherapy services.
Methods: The group developed a prototype website during the Leadership Institute and received feedback from other participants. The group applied for, but did not receive a grant for web development expenses. The group was able to get a donation from a Physical Therapy club in the United States to help cover the expenses of a web designer and hosting. The project mentor from HVO met with the group leader both electronically and in person to continue working toward implementation of the project.
Results: The current website is www.rdaept.org. In order for the site to be sustainable, the group will need to continue to raise enough funds to cover the costs of web hosting. The website hosts online continuing professional development courses, which are offered to Rwandan physiotherapists at a low cost (8 USD). The first few courses have been donated for use on the website. In the future, the site may host advertisements for private clinics, which can be an additional source of revenue and may allow for a greater variety of course offerings.
Conclusion(s): The implementation of the website development project is a result of developing and working on this project as part of the HVO Leadership Institute. The website will facilitate increased awareness of physiotherapy in Rwanda, and will provide a method of communication and education for Rwandan therapists. It is an example of using leadership skills to address the need for increased awareness of physiotherapy and promote change for physiotherapy in Rwanda.
Implications: This project may be used by other low resource countries as an example. With minimal fundraising, planning and goal-setting, it is possible to develop a functional, professional website to promote physiotherapy.
Funding acknowledgements: The ARRSP was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Website support from Misericordia University PT Club.
Topic: Education: continuing professional development
Ethics approval: Ethics approval was not required.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
