ED-Enhancing rehabilitation in sub Saharan African by means of continuous professional training and the use of technology-supported

GO2024ITP258A104 01/09/2024 - 31/08/2027 The development of a neurorehabilitation education program is a critical step towards providing effective care to patients suffering from neurological disorders in Africa. The project aims to address the significant shortage of trained professionals in this field responsible of a too low dosages (early discharge), or rehabilitation services not being offered in rural areas. To improve this situation, we will provide specialized training to physiotherapists and organize an internship in Belgium for local teachers and instructors. The education program will use innovative pedagogical methods to train physiotherapists on how to treat patients in an evidence-based manner. Participants will learn through clinical cases, simulations, and hands-on training the fundamentals of neurorehabilitation. Technology-enhanced learning approaches will allow participants to learn anywhere, anytime to make the specialized training more accessible. The training will include demonstration of the latest rehabilitation technology for therapists in resource-limited situations using affordable and portable devices thanks to the development of a local hub of the TechnoRehabLab (now at UHasselt). Beside this local training for therapists, a specific intensive internship will be organized in Hasselt to further enhance the training of local teachers and instructors. They will receive specific lectures on neurorehabilitation, research, and pedagogical methods. More advanced technologies will also be demonstrated in the TechnoRehabLab at REVAL, a center of excellence for neurorehabilitation that focuses on low- and mid-cost rehabilitation technologies. The project aims to provide specialized training to therapists in Africa, using innovative pedagogical techniques and technology-enhanced learning methods to transfer knowledge and skills effectively. By establishing partnerships and collaborations, the program seeks to provide a sustainable and scalable solution to the shortage of trained professionals in the field of neurorehabilitation, ultimately improving patient outcomes in Africa.