Most people will need rehabilitation at some point in their life due to illness, injury or the effects of ageing; however, too often there is a lack of trained rehabilitation workers to meet this need. The Center for Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) is the key actor for building the capacity of health professionals to deliver rehabilitation services in health facilities in the Lao PDR.
USAID Okard is supporting the CMR to establish a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Training Center on Rehabilitation for Health Professionals to increase the number of trained health professionals available to provide rehabilitation services.
On 1 – 2 July 2021, CMR, with the USAID Okard technical team, conducted the 1st CPDTC Steering Committee. During the meeting, the CMR team learned about the WHO Rehabilitation Competency Framework, developed job descriptions for the 12 core trainers, and reviewed the expected competencies of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists to be trained at the center. Over the next month, CMR will initiate the recruitment of core trainers from CMR and other central level health facilities that excel in their rehabilitation profession and are highly motivated to build the capacity of primary health care rehabilitation workers.
USAID Okard, funded by USAID and implemented by World Education, improves access to quality healthcare and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports design and implementation of disabilities inclusive policies.