Supporting the rehabilitation workforce in conflict-affected settings
On World Humanitarian Day Physiopedia honours all those who are working to meet the needs of people affected by crises. We support rehabilitation professionals all over the world through our ongoing work to strengthen rehabilitation in health systems and with timely response in providing education to address specific and urgent needs. #ActForHumanity.
On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers. Now each year on this date World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to honour humanitarians around the world who strive to meet ever-growing global needs.
“Humanitarian refers to those involved in or connected with improving people’s lives and reducing suffering, and includes anyone who advocates for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers”
Rehabilitation (among others includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and prosthetics and orthotics along with doctors and nurses working in rehabilitation) is crucial to improving the functioning, health and lives of people affected by crises, but it is an often overlooked element of health systems worldwide. In fact, limitations in rehabilitation workforce capacity represent one of the greatest challenges impacting health systems globally and this is most pressing in low and middle-income countries – particularly those affected by disaster and conflict.
“The Physiopedia mission is to improve global health through universal access to rehabilitation knowledge.”
An important focus of Physiopedia’s charitable work is international rehabilitation workforce development. We do this by supporting high quality education and training for rehabilitation professionals, building a rehabilitation community and advocating for the rehabilitation profession through both ongoing international development work supporting low resource settings and in responding to global humanitarian needs.
Physiopedia’s ongoing activities to strengthen the rehabilitation workforce are helping to both improve lives and set up communities to deal with growing and changing needs for rehabilitation. Whether through partnering with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to create globally clinically relevant online courses such as the Wheelchair Service Provision Programme or with organisations such as John Hopkins University, University of Melbourne, Humanity and Inclusion, and Momentum Wheels for Humanity through the ReLAB-HS activities – collaboration is crucial in our efforts to address international education and development of the rehabilitation workforce. Thanks to the ReLAB-HS activity (funded by USAID) more than 180 courses have been developed specifically for rehabilitation professionals in low-resource settings, such as the Rehabilitation in Disaster and Conflict Programme. All online course material has been developed on Physiopedia Plus (Plus) – a specialist rehabilitation learning platform optimised for accessibility through the use of multiple media options and translation to offer 6 language options. All courses are also available to complete offline on the Plus app – particularly important in regions with limited internet access.
As part of ReLAB-HS Physiopedia have also developed the International Rehabilitation Education and Training Toolkit (IRETT) to support professional regulation of the rehabilitation professions, academic capacity of education institutions and clinical skills training programmes in low income countries – all to international standards.
Clinical skills training programmes are being held in four low and middle income countries, including conflict-affected Ukraine and Burma. Using a hybrid training approach these programmes blend Plus online courses with mentoring sessions and in-person training where possible, offering a flexible and responsive solution to the unique challenges faced in these regions. Mentors, who range from international experts to local professionals, not only provide essential guidance but also foster ongoing discussions via the Rehabilitation Community Platform. These conversations help participants adapt what they’ve learned to their local context, ensuring that the training has a lasting and meaningful impact. For example, in Ukraine, the clinical skills training programme focused on management of burns and wounds, identified as a critical gap. Participants have already expressed a strong desire to continue learning through this approach, recognising the value it brings to their everyday practice. In Burma, the skills training has been equally impactful. Traditionally, physiotherapists in the country have worked in isolation, but the clinical skills training has brought them together, creating a supportive network where they can share experiences and bolster their confidence. Through monthly online meetups, often led by local experts, participants are able to address specific challenges identified by the therapists themselves, making the training highly relevant and directly applicable to their work.
As well as these planned activities, Physiopedia has a long history of responding to humanitarian crises by providing timely and free access to education to support specific and urgent needs. Following the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion, which resulted in a unique pattern of injuries primarily affecting the upper extremities, Physiopedia developed courses on Flexor Tendon Injury Management and Extensor Tendon Injury Management with experienced hand therapist Kate Thorn. In 2020, as part of the global effort to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a mammoth effort by the team Physiopedia was able to offer free online courses at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020 when the world was still working out the impact of COVID-19. This supported rehabilitation professionals globally to understand the virus and how they could work within a multidisciplinary team to best manage patients.
More recently, in collaboration with Strengthening Rehabilitation Services in Health Systems (SRSHS), a USAID-funded project implemented by Momentum Wheels for Humanity, Physiopedia are responding to the war in Ukraine by leveraging support from international experts to address knowledge gaps identified and developing courses to enhance rehabilitation service delivery and workforce capacity. Specialist courses include the Introduction to the General Management of Patients with Burns Programme and the Complex Injuries and Multi System Conditions Programme
These collaborations have enabled us to co-design and implement cost-effective interventions that strengthen health systems and elevate the standard of rehabilitation care worldwide. Through these efforts, Physiopedia is not just delivering training; we’re building communities of practice that strengthen healthcare systems and support the survival, well-being and dignity of people, even in the most challenging environments. This is how we #ActForHumanity.
Physiopedia Plus offers free membership to the following individuals and organisations to access internationally accredited continuing education and professional development opportunities for the global rehabilitation community in 6 languages:
all ICRC Physical Rehabilitation programme staff
all rehabilitation professionals in Ukraine
individuals in low-income countries
In addition, individuals in middle-income countries and students anywhere in the world can benefit from a discount to Plus