REHABILITATION CENTERS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID19PROJECT

REHABILITATION CENTERS’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID19

December 10, 2021By

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The COVID-19 pandemic is the global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II. Since its emergence last year in Asia, the virus has spread around the world. Cases are increasing daily in Africa, America, and Europe. And there are many discussions going on in different parts of the world to find safe ways to protect and reduce the spread of the virus.

The health sector in this pandemic is the most exposed because of their close contact with patients and it is essential to think about a real barrier of protection to allow them to continue to fly to the rescue of populations.

The virus is transmitted mainly by respiratory route and by close contact with a person or directly from contaminated surfaces. Respiratory transmission occurs in the droplets of saliva expelled by the patient, for example when he coughs or sneezes. Scientists estimate that this requires a contact distance (about one meter). However, it is difficult for a health worker to stand within one meter of a patient he or she is called upon to touch and examine. Therefore, solutions should be considered to prevent the virus from being sprayed in the face of health workers when the patient happens to cough or sneeze. Masks have been and continue to be successful, but they do not cover the entire face.

Also, in West Africa, at the initiative of the Technical Direction of Humanity & Inclusion and Jérôme CANICAVE (Consultant in Prostheses and Orthoses), the African Organization for the Development of Centers for Persons with Disabilities (OADPCH), in partnership with the Ecole Nationale des Auxiliaires Médicaux de Lomé (ENAM-L) have thought and proceeded to the manufacture of prototypes of protective visors and masks for health personnel in general, and in particular for rehabilitation professionals in order to protect themselves and their patients. In the words of Dr. Gusmini, “It is very reassuring for the nursing staff because it avoids any projection at the level of the eyes, the skin and the mouth, and it also avoids us to carry our hands to the face” (https://www.franceinter.fr/societe/covid-19-l-imprimante-3d-a-la-rescousse).

Of course, these visors are mainly protective screens and barriers against coughing and spitting, they do not replace the mask in any way. They are in addition to all other barrier measures defined and published by the WHO and should not be used as a substitute for all other barrier measures.

These protective visors can obviously be used in all sectors of activity where contact between people cannot be avoided, and why not to any person who in his personal activities should come into contact with someone else.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to participate in the global synergy in the fight against Covid19 by designing, manufacturing and making available to health professionals in general and to rehabilitation professionals protective visors and masks against Covid19, in the French-speaking area of West Africa, and by sharing recommendations specific to rehabilitation centers in the area concerned.

 

This project also values the unique and often poorly known and under-used skills of rehabilitation center professionals; although their activity is reduced or stopped during the Covid-19 episode, they will nevertheless remain active for the benefit of their health colleagues and the population; they will thus be prepared and equipped to ensure the post-acute care of Covid-19 patients according to WHO guidelines currently being developed with the support of HI.

 

DURÉE DU PROJET : 2017 –

 

PARTENAIRES

Centrale d’achats de OADCPH

HI

Alcura

Penta Group

SM Europe

REHABILITATION CENTERS’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID19

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 BY OADCPH

VISORS OF PROTECTION PROJECT FOR WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES19

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The COVID-19 pandemic is the global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II. Since its emergence last year in Asia, the virus has spread around the world. Cases are increasing daily in Africa, America, and Europe. And there are many discussions going on in different parts of the world to find safe ways to protect and reduce the spread of the virus.

The health sector in this pandemic is the most exposed because of their close contact with patients and it is essential to think about a real barrier of protection to allow them to continue to fly to the rescue of populations.

The virus is transmitted mainly by respiratory route and by close contact with a person or directly from contaminated surfaces. Respiratory transmission occurs in the droplets of saliva expelled by the patient, for example when he coughs or sneezes. Scientists estimate that this requires a contact distance (about one meter). However, it is difficult for a health worker to stand within one meter of a patient he or she is called upon to touch and examine. Therefore, solutions should be considered to prevent the virus from being sprayed in the face of health workers when the patient happens to cough or sneeze. Masks have been and continue to be successful, but they do not cover the entire face.

Also, in West Africa, at the initiative of the Technical Direction of Humanity & Inclusion and Jérôme CANICAVE (Consultant in Prostheses and Orthoses), the African Organization for the Development of Centers for Persons with Disabilities (OADPCH), in partnership with the Ecole Nationale des Auxiliaires Médicaux de Lomé (ENAM-L) have thought and proceeded to the manufacture of prototypes of protective visors and masks for health personnel in general, and in particular for rehabilitation professionals in order to protect themselves and their patients. In the words of Dr. Gusmini, “It is very reassuring for the nursing staff because it avoids any projection at the level of the eyes, the skin and the mouth, and it also avoids us to carry our hands to the face” (https://www.franceinter.fr/societe/covid-19-l-imprimante-3d-a-la-rescousse).

Of course, these visors are mainly protective screens and barriers against coughing and spitting, they do not replace the mask in any way. They are in addition to all other barrier measures defined and published by the WHO and should not be used as a substitute for all other barrier measures.

These protective visors can obviously be used in all sectors of activity where contact between people cannot be avoided, and why not to any person who in his personal activities should come into contact with someone else.

To compensate for the lack of protective masks for health personnel, 3D printed masks that are easy to disinfect and reusable can be used.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to participate in the global synergy in the fight against Covid19 by designing, manufacturing and making available to health professionals in general and to rehabilitation professionals protective visors and masks against Covid19, in the French-speaking area of West Africa, and by sharing recommendations specific to rehabilitation centers in the area concerned.

This project also values the unique and often poorly known and under-used skills of rehabilitation center professionals; although their activity is reduced or stopped during the Covid-19 episode, they will nevertheless remain active for the benefit of their health colleagues and the population; they will thus be prepared and equipped to ensure the post-acute care of Covid-19 patients according to WHO guidelines currently being developed with the support of HI.

More specifically, it is about :

STANDARD of a production model kit

Provide prototypes manufactured by OADCPH and ENAM-L to the rehabilitation centers in the concerned area

TRAINING & MATERIALS for deployment of the standard

Showing the centers the easy manufacturing process of the protective visors
Integrating advice to the organization of production, with strict compliance with barrier measures,
Provide rehabilitation centers with 3D printed protective masks
To provide the centers with the material for the production of the protective visors
Provision of posters and work organization instructions

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Monitor the production and distribution of protective visors and masks

Set up a feedback system to continuously improve the standard kit

Duration : February 2019-
Region: West Africa / OADCPH member countries

Partners
National School of Medical Assistants (ENAM) – Faculty of Medicine – Togo
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion (HI)

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PROJECT

POUDRETTE PROJECT

December 10, 2021By 0 comment

CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

In Africa, thousands of people with disabilities do not have access to a prosthesis, while in other countries thousands of prostheses are thrown away every year. In order to give a second life to these prostheses, they are recovered and refurbished in the recycling workshop called Poudrette of Handicap International (Humanity Inclusion) before being recovered by OADCPH to be distributed throughout Africa.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to help in the management of the patients who do not have the                 means to do so.

DURATION OF THE PROJECT : 2017 – 

 

PARTNERS

OADCPH

HI

IRMA

SLP

AQUALEG

 

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PROJECT

ATIF PROJECT

December 9, 2021By 0 comment

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

“One billion people in the world have a disability, but 90% of them do not have access to affordable technological innovations that could significantly improve their quality of life. These people simply do not have access to the technical aids they need.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places health and well-being at the heart of the new development vision. It emphasizes universal health coverage (UHC) as a way to ensure sustainable development for all so that everyone, everywhere, can access the health services they need without facing financial hardship.

Access to quality technical aids at the right time is an essential condition for progress towards universal health coverage.

However, one billion people in the world have a disability, but 90% of them do not have access to affordable technological innovations that could significantly improve their quality of life.

Addressing the unmet need for assistive technology is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring UHC, and implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by 177 countries.

The ATIF fund supports and accompanies structures in the field of assistive technology in Africa.

With the ATIF project, OADCPH is seeking to set up a branch in East Africa to get closer to the rest of Africa, and to set up an e-commerce platform for a better service offer.

 

OBJECTIVE :

The objective of this project is to enable technological solutions to reach more people in Africa for better access to technical aids.

 

DURATION OF THE PROJECT : 2021 – 2022

PARTNERS

UK AID

AT2030

ASSISTIVE TECH IMPACT FUND

 

REFERENCES

ASSISTIVE TECH IMPACT FUND

OADCPH – venture introduction

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PROJET IMP&ACTE 3DPROJECT

IMP&ACTE 3D PROJECT

December 9, 2021By 0 comment

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

More than 30 million people in low-income countries need an artificial limb or brace, but according to the World Health Organization, only 5% to 15% of them can access this service.

The development of new technologies, such as 3D printing and telemedicine, has opened the door to innovative approaches to health service delivery, especially for reaching patients living in remote areas or in conflict zones.

By introducing 3D printing technology to the field of physical rehabilitation in West Africa, this operational research seeks to address the challenge of increasing the productivity of current prosthetists to reach more children and adults with disabilities by inventing an intervention method to address the isolation of many patients living in dangerous, conflict-ridden, or hard-to-reach areas.

 

OBJECTIVE

This project aims to strengthen the capacities of the African Organization for the Development of Centers for Persons with Disabilities (OADCPH), a network based in Lomé (Togo) that brings together 68 rehabilitation centers in 22 African countries. A 3D manufacturing laboratory (Fab Lab) will be set up at the OADCPH to produce and supply “3D orthotics” to 4 rehabilitation centers in Togo, Mali and Niger. Four professionals (two orthoprosthetists, two physical therapists) per center will be trained in 3D printing technology and will practice tele-rehabilitation, i.e., fitting patients with the help of an orthoprosthetist via videoconference.

Our Belgian partner, Thomas University College, will have an indispensable role in the project by supervising the research process and guaranteeing the scientific validity of the research project.

Duration: 18 months

Nov 2017- April 2019
Area of intervention:

TOGO (Lomé ; Dapaong)

NIGER (Niamey)

MALI (Bamako)
Partners

  1. African Organization for the Development of Centers for the Disabled (OADCPH) – Togo
  2. National School for Medical Assistants (ENAM) – Faculty of Medicine – Togo
  3. Thomas More University College – Belgium

 
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oadcphCONTINUING EDUCATION

FEMORAL PROSTHESIS WITH INTEGRATED ISCHIUM SOCKET, PNEUMATIC AND MECHANICAL KNEES, PROTEOR ENERGY RESTITUTION FEET

December 6, 2021By

From Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 September 2019 was held at ENAM the training on the manufacture and use of a femoral prosthesis with integrated ischium socket, pneumatic and mechanical knees, feet with energy restitution PROTEOR. This training was given by the PROTEOR team composed of : JEAN Christophe Bonnardel technical manager prosthesis PROTEOR (trainer), PHILIPPE Chanal sales manager Africa zone PROTEOR, TAPSOBA Serge focal point PROTEOR Burkina Faso.

PROTEOR TRAINING REPORT

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PROJECT

Contribution des centres de réadaptation à la lutte anti-Covid19

November 29, 2021By

PROJET VISIERES DE PROTECTION ANTI-COVID19 POUR LES PAYS D’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST

CONTEXTE ET JUSTIFICATION

La pandémie du COVID-19 est la crise sanitaire mondiale de notre époque et le plus grand défi auquel nous ayons été confrontés depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Depuis son apparition l’année dernière en Asie, le virus s’est propagé à travers le monde. Les cas augmentent quotidiennement en Afrique, en Amérique, et en Europe. Et plusieurs réflexions sont en cours dans les différentes parties du monde afin de trouver des moyens sécurisés de protection et de réduction de la propagation du virus.

Le secteur de la santé dans cette pandémie est le plus exposée de par leur contact rapproché avec les patients et il est primordial de réfléchir à une réelle barrière de protection pour leur permettre de continuer de voler au secours des populations.

Le virus se transmet essentiellement par voie respiratoire et par contact proche avec une personne ou directement des surfaces contaminées. La transmission par voie respiratoire se fait dans les gouttelettes de salive expulsées par le malade, par exemple quand il tousse ou éternue. Les scientifiques estiment que cela nécessite une distance de contact (environ un mètre). Il est toutefois difficile pour un agent de santé de se tenir à 1 mètre d’un patient qu’il est appelé à toucher et à examiner. Aussi faudrait-il penser à des solutions pour empêcher le virus d’être propulsé sur le visage des agents de santé lorsqu’il arrive que le patient tousse ou éternue. Les masques ont fait et continuent de faire leurs preuves mais ils ne couvrent pas tout le visage.

Aussi, en Afrique de l’Ouest, à  l’initiative de la Direction Technique de Humanité & Inclusion et Jérôme CANICAVE (Consultant en Prothèses et Orthèses), l’Organisation Africaine pour le Développement des Centres pour Personnes Handicapées (OADPCH), en partenariat avec l’Ecole Nationale des Auxiliaires Médicaux de Lomé (ENAM-L) ont-ils réfléchi et procédé à la fabrication de prototypes de visière de protection et de masque à l’endroit du personnel de santé en général, et en particulier des professionnels de la réadaptation aux fins de se protéger et protéger leurs patients. Et pour reprendre les propos du docteur Gusmini, “Cela rassure énormément le personnel soignant parce que cela évite toute projection au niveau des yeux, de la peau et de la bouche, et cela nous évite aussi de porter nos mains au visage” (https://www.franceinter.fr/societe/covid-19-l-imprimante-3d-a-la-rescousse).

Bien entendu, ces visières sont surtout des écrans de protection et des barrières anti-toux et postillons, elles ne dispensent en aucune façon du masque. Elles viennent s’ajouter à toutes les autres mesures barrières définies et publiées par l’OMS et ne devront pas être utilisée comme substitut à toutes les autres mesures barrières.

Ces visières de protection pourront évidemment servir dans tous les secteurs d’activité ou le contact entre personnes ne peut être évité, et pourquoi pas à toute personne qui dans ses activités personnelles devrait se mettre en contact avec quelqu’un d’autre.

Pour pallier au déficit de masque de protection pour le personnel de santé, les masques imprimées 3D facile à désinfecter et réutilisable pourront être utilisés.

 

OBJECTIFS

Ce projet a pour objectif de participer à la synergie mondiale de lutte contre le covid19 par la conception, la fabrication et la mise à disposition des professionnels de la santé en général et des professionnels de la réadaptation des visières et masques de protection anti-covid19, dans l’espace francophone de l’Afrique de l’ouest, et en partageant des recommandations spécifiques aux centres de réadaptation dans l’espace concerné.

Ce projet valorise aussi les compétences uniques et souvent mal connues et sous utilisées des professionnels des centres de réadaptation ; Bien qu’en activité réduite ou stoppée pendant l’épisode Covid-19 ils conserveront cependant une activité au bénéfice de leurs collègues de la santé et de la population ; Ils seront ainsi préparés et équipés à assurer la prise en charge en post aigue des patients Covid-19 selon des guidelines de l’OMS en cours d’élaboration avec l’appui de HI.

Plus spécifiquement, il s’agit de :

STANDARD d’un kit modèle de production

  • Fournir des prototypes fabriqués par l’OADCPH et l’ENAM-L aux centres de réadaptation dans la zone concernée

 

FORMATION & MATERIEL pour déploiement du standard

  • Montrer aux centres les processus de fabrication facile des visières de protection
    • Intégrant conseils à l’organisation de la production, avec respect strict des mesures barrières,
  • Mettre à la disposition des centres de réadaptation les masques de protection imprimés 3D
  • Mettre à la disposition des centres, le matériel pour la fabrication des visières de protection
  • Mise à disposition de posters et consignes d’organisation travail

 

ASSURANCE QUALITE

  • Suivre la production et la distribution des visières et masques de protection
  • Mettre en place un système de retour d’usage / satisfaction afin d’améliorer de façon continue le kit standard
Durée : Février 2019-
Région : Afrique de l’ouest /pays membres de OADCPH

 

 

 
Partenaires

  1. École Nationale des Auxiliaires Médicaux (ENAM) – Faculté de Médecine – Togo
  2. Comité International de la Croix Rouge ( CICR)
  3.  Handicap International-Humanité & Inclusion (HI)

 
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LE TOGO ACCORDE À L’OADCPH DES FACILITÉS ADMINISTRATIVES ET LES FRANCHISES FISCALES ET DOUANIÈRESNews

TOGO GRANTS OADCPH ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES AND TAX AND CUSTOMS EXEMPTIONS

October 3, 2021By

The African Organization for the Development of Centers for Persons with Disabilities (OADCPH) signed yesterday in Lomé with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a headquarters agreement.

According to Mass NIANG, executive director of OADCPH, this agreement aims to promote access to rehabilitation care for a large number of disabled people and their families, improve the quality of care given to disabled people and promote the development and sustainability of rehabilitation services in Africa.

Through this headquarters agreement, the Togolese government grants OADCPH administrative facilities and tax and customs exemptions necessary for the execution of its programs and projects on the territory.

As a reminder, the OADCPH is a non-governmental organization founded in 2011 and which includes more than 80 structures in more than 30 countries in Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone Africa.

 

References :

http://www.lomebougeinfo.com/lome/togo-loadcph-signature-daccord-de-siege-entre-monsieur-mass-niang-et-madame-tay-afetse/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ahCSWS5FE

https://www.lomeinfos.com/loadcph-est-autorisee-a-sinstaller-au-togo/

 

 

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

STRATEGIC REFLECTION AND TRAINING SEMINAR FOR MANAGERS AND PROFESSIONALS OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION CENTERS

September 9, 2021By

From November 15 to 17, 2019, the OADCPH organized in collaboration with its partners a strategic seminar of reflection and training in Tunis, Tunisia for managers and professionals of physical rehabilitation centers. This training workshop aimed on the one hand to share experience between various centers (public and private) in terms of management of rehabilitation centers, an acquisition of skills in terms of quality approach and on the other hand a strengthening of the skills of ortho-prosthetists in relation to the prosthetization of the knee disarticulation.

General Report_OADCPH Seminar_Tunis Nov 2019

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RENCONTRE DES TECHNICIENS ORTHOPROTHÉSISTES ET KINÉSITHÉRAPEUTES, PROJET IMPACTE 3DNews

MEETING OF ORTHOPROSTHETIC TECHNICIANS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, IMPACTE 3D PROJECT

October 5, 2020By

As planned in the IMPACTE 3D project schedule, the first refresher meeting on the two (02) types of posture orthotics (AFO and KAFO posture orthotics for ankle flexion and knee varum) started on Monday, February 12, 2018 at ENAM L with the participation of nine (09) ortho-prosthetists and eight (08) physical therapists coming from four (04) rehabilitation centers from three (03) countries (the CNAO of Lomé, the CRAO of Dapaong, the CNAO of Mali and the Orthopaedic Fitting Service of the National Hospital of Niamey). This meeting which ended on Friday, February 16, 2018 was led by several trainers including three (03) orthoprosthetists (AFETSE Matthieu, Orthoprosthetist referent at the OADCPH; Sophie POURRET, the orthoprosthetist expert of ORTEN, Jérôme CANICAVE, orthoprosthetist and 3D expert of HI) and 02 physiotherapists (Setondji SOSSA, physiotherapist at the CNAO and Uta UPREHL, physiotherapist referent at HI). The overall objective is to update the ortho-prosthetists and physiotherapists on the orthopaedic treatment protocols of the two (02) posture orthoses. Specifically, the participants have strengthened their knowledge in clinical evaluation techniques, treatment indications, correct measurements, manufacturing techniques of the devices and the process of fitting and delivery of the devices according to international standards.

This training is the first of a list of three (03) trainings, the second of which is already scheduled for March 12 to 18.

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News

EXCHANGE VISIT BETWEEN AWA OF AIRBUS DEFENSE & SPACE IN LOME

October 5, 2020By

OADCPH (African Organization for the Development of Centers for Persons with Disabilities) hosted a delegation from AWA (ALM With Africa) of Airbus Defense & Space from September 29 to October 2, 2014 in Lomé. This delegation consisted of Mr. Christian Desagulier (AWA project leader) and Mr. Ghislain de la Sayette (Africa Director).

The purpose of this visit was to share with the rehabilitation actors the Additive Manufacturing Processes (scanning, digital design, 3D printing manufacturing) employed by Airbus and which are usable in the manufacture of quality prostheses and orthoses, in record time and at reduced costs.

The exchange meeting organized on 30/09 by OADCPH on this occasion, brought together 37 representatives of the main national and international rehabilitation actors working in the field of disability in Togo (see list of participants). After presenting the company and the 3D printing system, Airbus presented the teleprosthesis, as well as the 3D-printed joints.

This meeting was followed by individual meetings with the CNAO (Centre National d’Appareillage Orthopédique de Lomé), the FSH (Fonds Spécial du CICR pour les personnes Handicapées), the ENAM (Ecole Nationale des Auxiliaires Médicaux de Lomé), Handicap International, the WHO, WoeLab, FETAPH (Fédération Togolaise des Associations de Personnes Handicapées), APROSA (Action pour la Promotion de la Santé)

On 1 October, the delegation visited the APROSA clinic in Kpalimé, an orthopedic fitting center located 150 km from Lomé.

At the end of this visit, the following was agreed between OADCPH and AWA:

A sub-regional workshop on additive manufacturing It will be organized by OADCPH and will take place at ENAM in Lomé in March 2015. This workshop will bring together about thirty diversified actors (computer engineers, orthoprosthetic technicians) coming from different French-speaking African countries. Duration of the workshop:

5 days.

Product :

  • Fitting of two lower limb amputees.
  • OADCPH will calculate an approximate budget for the workshop
  • The CAD training module will be given in parallel to the ENAM students
  • An MOU will be written by Christian Desagulier

The contribution of Airbus will be in kind:

  • project manager and technician Christian Desagulier,
  • a trainer technician specialized in CAD,
  • the machine (3D printer) will be provided by Airbus.
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