UNICEF ASSISTIVE Devices for Children

6th – 7th July, 2015

Marc Zlot

ICRCPhysical Rehabilitation

Activities

Physical Rehabilitation

Physical Rehabilitation is an important part of the integrated rehabilitation process, enabling persons with physical impairment to gain mobilityThis is the main condition for the person to participate in education, work and social lifeBetween 1979 and 2014: 170 projects (centres) in 48 countries and one territory were supported by the ICRC

PRP & SFD Scope of Activities 2015

The primary aims of ICRC physical rehabilitation activities are:• Improve access to services for people with physical disabilities• Improve the quality of those services• To ensure their long-term availability and• To promote inclusion and participation of persons with physical

disabilities in society

In order to achieve these aims, the ICRC takes a twin-track approach: assistance is given to both the national system and to the users of its services

Objectives

Two-Pronged Approach

People-oriented

• Promote access

• Information

• Identification, referral & follow-up

• Reimbursement of services

• Transport, accommodation & food

Structure-oriented

• Financial & material support

• Technical & managerial support

• Capacity building

• Training

• Supporting national bodies

Operational Examples

Improving access to services

Developing human resources

Improving the ICRC in-house technology

In 2014, more than 318’000 people (32% children, 20% women) had access to assistive technology at ICRC-assisted centers (PRP only)

20’000 prostheses, 74’000 orthoses, 4’500 wheelchairs &

19’000 pairs of crutches along with appropriate physiotherapy to

150’000 users

Conducting formal training in Afghanistan, Ethiopia and

Bangladesh

Supporting opening of new schools in Yemen and Sudan

Supporting existing schools (P&O and PT)

In 2015, 156 candidates subsidized to attend formal P&O and PT training

Research continued, to upgrading and further developing the entire range of products: new prosthetic

hand and foot

Currently field testing of new 4-bar prosthetic knee

Collaboration with Engineering Universities

Operational Examples

Promoting inclusion and participation

Long-term functioning of services

Monitoring quality and impact of

servicesAccess to sport activities, which

increases self-confidence and self-esteem, in most countries

Support for activities during the International Day of Persons with

Disabilities (December 3rd)

Supporting national coordinating bodies for development and implementation of national

strategies

Supporting development of management tools

Sponsorships to attend SLP & EMP

Beneficiaries Feedback and Technical Assessment (BF&TA)

Study: Impact of physical rehabilitation on persons with

disabilities, in collaboration with the LSHTM

Collaborating with Teeside University (UK) on PT Quality

Standards

Other ActivitiesPhysical Rehabilitation Committee• Developing comprehensive approaches to the

management of diabetes, clubfoot and cerebral palsy

• Defining and implementing “corporate” P&O, PT and W/C standards

Training & Education Committee• Defining and implementing “corporate” training

policy

• Developing comprehensive, contextual adaptable training packages with competency-based curriculum

Addressing the needs for pedortics

Addressing the needs to include other professions

Collaborations (among other with …)

• ISPO – Supporting ISPO education activities

• ISPRM - International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

• WCPT – World Confederation of Physical Therapist – national association recognition, education, etc.

• WHO – Development Group for the development of Health-Related Rehabilitation Guidelines; Core Working Group for the development of a guidance document on minimum standards for réhabilitation in emergencies; GATE

• FATO - Member of Congress Scientific Committee and Chair of FATO Advisory Board

• ISWP – International Society of Wheelchair Professionals, member of the Advisory Board

• Global Club Foot Initiative (GCI) - Member of the Governing Board

• Nottwil Swiss Paraplegics Centre - Professional expertise for the management of SCI

• Cerebral Palsy Association (Eastern Cape) - Professional expertise for CP management

• International Centre for Evidence in Disability (LSHTM) – Research

• Engineering Universities for the development of the ICRC-developed technologies

Supporting Youth

• 62’000 children assisted in Afghanistan, RCA, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen (progressive increase) in 2014

• Provision of mobility and assistive devices

• Parents’ education (e.g. children with CP, CF)

• In Afghanistan, schooling and vocational training

• In supported projects: referrals to DPOs, vocational centers

I am one of

thousands!

Thank you!