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Occupational Therapy: a Tool for Functional Peace

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Occupational Therapy: a Tool for Functional Peace 1 Title of project: Occupational Therapy: A Tool for Functional Peace. Country where the project took place: Uganda By Samuel Ouma, International House New York, Teachers College Columbia University. Home Country: Uganda The goals of this project were to enhance the competence and motivation of Occupational therapists working in northern Uganda, provide basic therapeutic equipment and materials to two hospitals, and encourage creation of support groups of primary caregivers of children with disabilities. The project was also to develop strategies for future funding and development of Occupational therapy in Uganda. This project was made possible by a grant from Davis Projects for Peace. There was no additional funding from any other source. I acknowledge support from the Uganda Association of Occupational Therapists (UAOT) especially the president with whom I worked closely in implementing this project. Lira regional hospital availed a pickup truck to collect a consignment of equipment from Kampala. On arrival in Uganda with a grant from Davis Projects for Peace, I immediately arranged for the initial planning meeting with key members of UAOT. The meeting held at the Occupational therapy training school in Kampala focused on the needs of Occupational therapy in Uganda with special attention to northern Uganda. We reviewed the lists of equipment submitted by therapists working at Lira and Gulu hospitals in northern Uganda. The aim of having technical people review the lists of equipment was for me to obtain unbiased opinion on the most important equipment needed for Occupational therapy. This meeting helped us come up with a more comprehensive list of equipment and materials for the two hospitals. We were also able to discuss the training needs of Occupational therapists in northern Uganda and identify potential facilitators for the training workshop that was to be conducted as part of the activities of this project. Among the assortment of equipment that we agreed to purchase were wheel chairs for use by children with mobility problems, exercise mats for clinical work in the Occupational therapy facilities, standing frames for training children and adults with difficulties in standing. We also decided to equip mental health sections of Occupational therapy at Lira and Gulu hospitals with television sets complete with DVD players, and radio cassettes. These are to be used in health education in addition to other leisure activities of people with mental illnesses and their caretakers while attending therapy. The other equipment that was delivered to the two hospitals was cerebral palsy seats, walkers, games and toys, sewing machines, and cookery utensils among many other therapeutic items. These therapeutic tools and aids are to be owned by Occupational therapy units at Lira and Gulu hospitals. They will be used in treating people with various forms of disabilities with the aim of promoting functional independence in activities of daily living. The above equipment was purchased and delivered to the beneficiary hospitals in northern Uganda by the project leader with the help of some members of UAOT. They were received by the respective medical superintendents and the hospital administrative team of the beneficiary hospitals on behalf of the Occupational therapy units. This was done to emphasize the fact that the equipment and materials were a property of the hospital and not individual therapists. The handover ceremony was also used by the project leader to appeal to the hospital management team to support the development of Occupational therapy through continued funding of disability related activities and services. The other key activity of this project was a two day training workshop for Occupational therapists held at Lira regional referral hospital. The workshop was attended by eighteen therapists the majority of whom were from district, missionary, and regional hospitals in the war affected region of northern Uganda. The therapists from the remaining three regions of Uganda were represented by one therapist per region. The training addressed topics like treatment approaches of neurological conditions (emphasis on cerebral 2 palsy), psychosocial support of mothers and caretakers of children with disabilities, and management of Occupational therapy facilities. The choice of these topics was in response to the challenges the therapists had reported to be facing in their work. We also used this forum to discuss strategies of developing Occupational therapy in Uganda. Pertinent issues regarding the development of the profession were raised and strategies of meeting them drawn. As a way forward and to ensure sustainability of the project, I met with ministry of health officials and a representative each from UAOT and the Occupational therapy school. In this meeting, we discussed the Davis project for peace in northern Uganda with particular focus on enhancement of the roles of Occupational therapy in addressing the needs of people with disabilities. The disability prevention and rehabilitation (DPAR) section, the division of ministry of health responsible for disability issues in the country, pledged to among other things strengthen their supervisory role of all Occupational therapy facilities in Uganda. The DPAR is to work with Lira and Gulu hospitals in ensuring that the equipment and materials delivered to these two hospitals by this project are put to good use. The DPAR is also to work with UAOT in developing strategies for equipping all district and regional Occupational therapy facilities in the country. The short term impact of this project has been increased enthusiasm of Occupational therapists in Gulu and Lira hospitals in treatment of patients with disabilities. It therefore follows that most of the patients attending the beneficiary units will get adequate treatment through improved services. This project will continue to be a role model to future projects aimed at improving disability services in Uganda. It is also important to note that many of the therapists who attended the training at Lira hospital now feel it is possible for them to spearhead initiatives to improve their respective work stations without having to depend on their employers. This follows the example I (being an Occupational therapist myself) set with the help of Davis projects for peace. For an Occupational therapist who has for years been unable to provide adequate services to their patients due to limited resources, competence notwithstanding, peace means: being able to provide their skilled treatment to patients using recommended pieces of equipment and/ or materials in a well furnished unit. This form of treatment would also translate to other forms of peace to the recipients (people with disabilities): being able to acquire functional independence in activities of daily living, being able to contribute to their own welfare with minimal or no dependence on others, and finally living a whole life in spite of their previous or current condition. Through this project, I have had the opportunity to be part of the multifaceted forms of peace as defined above. There is no doubt that this project has contributed to peace in northern Uganda. It may not be the kind of peace experienced since the end of the protracted civil war between the rebels of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda, but there has been an immediate change in the perception of Occupational therapy by especially the management of Gulu and Lira hospitals. There has also been evidence of commitment from other stake holders like DPAR in ensuring the development of Occupational therapy services to people with disabilities not only in northern Uganda but also the rest of the country. In the long run, with support from UAOT, DPAR, and individual hospitals among other stakeholders, the initiative made possible by the Davis projects for peace will have far reaching impact to disability related services in Uganda. The furnishing of Occupational therapy units at Lira and Gulu hospitals by this project will for long be worth replicating across the country. I have been very fortunate to be a resident member of International house New York, but much more, participating in the Davis projects for peace 2010. Contributing to the well being of people with disabilities through the activities of this project has been my greatest contribution to Occupational therapy in Uganda. Title of project: Occupational Therapy: A Tool for Functional Peace. Country where the project took place: Uganda By Samuel Ouma, International House New York, Teachers College Columbia University. Home Country: Uganda .
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