Introduction Case Report Results

Conclusions

Haiti was ravaged by a terrible earthquake last year that has marked its history forever. Between 194’000 to 250’000 newly wounded individuals were counted. Many of these will be disabled for the rest of their lives. Haiti already had 800’000 people living with disabilities before the disaster according to the World Health Organization. In Haiti, as well as all other low-resourced countries, the needs of people with disabilities are the last to be addressed. Efforts to provide rehabilitation care were intensified after the earthquake.

Community practice of physiotherapy in Haiti has been an urgent need after the disaster. Initial concerns were the lack of outstanding professionals to compensate for local needs. The Rehabilitation Technician Training Program (RTTP), implemented at Hopital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapelles, Haiti, demonstrated the consistency of the practice of physiotherapy in the villages by supporting capacity building of rehabilitation care systems provided by national/local professionals.

The technicians trained by the RTTP provide rehabilitation care in Hopital Albert Schweitzer facilities over the communities by breaking various barriers such as: 1) Distance between the community and the hospital, 2) family education, 3) fees payable for the consultation and 4) waiting time to be seen at the hospital.

This practice implemented in the Artibonite, may be applicable in other regions of the country. Rehabilitation in the villages remains a challenge to many communities and even cities. A capacity building guideline is considered in order to implement national standards to ensure the provision of adequate resources for proper support of people with disabilities.

Community-Based Rehabilitation breaking barriers for people with disability in Haiti

David Charles, PTDeschapelles, Haiti

ISPRM Symposium on Rehabilitation Disaster Relief at the 6th ISPRM World Conference in Puerto Rico 2011

13 June 2011San Juan Puerto Rico