Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest nations, with a population more than twice as large as Canada’s. The World Health Organization estimates that 10 % of Ethiopians are living with a disability, which translates to roughly 7 million people. In this country, with a landmass similar in size to Ontario, there are currently only 11 practicing physiotherapists.
There have been sporadic attempts at training physiotherapists in Ethiopia in the past, most at a diploma level and none that were sustainable. The physiotherapists practicing in Ethiopia today are generally expatriates, or foreign-trained nationals, and the vast majority work in the capitol city, Addis Ababa. In 2003, the University of Gondar in northern Ethiopia began the nation’s first Bachelor of Science Physiotherapy degree program. The project began with two Dutch volunteer physiotherapists and a supporting team of Ethiopian physicians who believed that physiotherapy could improve quality of life in their country.
The program now has 125 students and an international team of instructors, including volunteers from the Netherlands, Japan, India, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. During the past year I was fortunate to participate in this project as a physiotherapy lecturer and clinical instructor.
The first class of physiotherapists is due to graduate in July, 2006. As could be expected, there are many obstacles to be overcome in order to provide a quality physiotherapy education in Ethiopia. The students must all share a handful of textbooks, and equipment is scarce. Due to the lack of practicing physiotherapists, it is difficult to provide adequate supervision for the students’ clinical placements. One of the biggest challenges is also the general lack of knowledge of what physiotherapy is and what it can offer. Therefore, educating other health professionals as well as the public is extremely important to the development of this “new” profession in Ethiopia.
During the past 12 months, there were many challenges, failures and frustrations, but, ultimately, the year was a great success. The students were extremely positive about their clinical experiences, and for perhaps the first time, truly understand what a huge difference they can make in the lives of the many Ethiopians who live with a disability.
Some would argue that rehabilitation should not be one of the highest priorities for a country that is facing decimation from HIV/AIDS. However, in a nation where most disabilities are preventable, the role that physiotherapy could play in the future is undeniably an important one.
Anyone interested in sending books, videos or equipment (such as goniometers, reflex hammers, theraband etc…), can do so by using the following address:
Physiotherapy Department
Gondar College of Medical and Health Scienc(GCMS) University of Gondar PO Box 196
Gondar
Ethiopia
Another initiative we are attempting to set up is a long-distance mentoring program. Many of the new graduates will be working alone in rural health centres or small hospitals and would benefit from having access to a peer for advice and discussion. Email is slowly making its way throughout the country, and hopefully, this will make the mentoring process more successful. For now, we are connecting students with Canadian therapists who are generally corresponding by air mail. If you are interested in becoming an over-seas mentor, please contact me at the following e-mail address.
