e-FATO Info

1st number, March 2019

French version / Version française

Dear FATO Member and Partner,

It is our pleasure to send you the first e-FATO-Info!

Regards
FATO

  

FATO ACTIVITIES

FATO IS CHANGING NAME

Established in 1992, the African Federation of Orthopaedic Technologists by a group of prosthetist-orthotists to address issues related specifically to the profession (i.e. lack of recognition, lack of access to education and training, lack of exchanges, etc.). However, over the years, FATO has grown and become a multidisciplinary organization aiming at promoting access to appropriate and equitable rehabilitation and mobility device services in Africa, thus improving the quality of life for persons who may benefit from rehabilitation and mobility devices services. FATO membership include all rehabilitation professionals (i.e. prosthetists-orthotists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation doctors, speech therapists, surgeons, CBR workers, etc) along with users of the services and decision makers.

 

For many of FATO members and partners, the name African Federation of Orthopaedic Technologists was no longer in line with the evolution of the federation and the time had come to review its name. After a consultation and a vote within its members and partners, the African Federation of Orthopaedic Technologists becomes the “African Federation of Rehabilitation Professionals”. While the name is changing, the acronym “FATO” will remain.

SYMPOSIUM ON REHABILITATION AND MOBILITY DEVICE SERVICES IN AFRICA

The African Federation of Orthopaedic Technologists (FATO) and the Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth (CEBE) organized a Symposium on Rehabilitation and Mobility Device Services in Africa which took place from December 3 to December 6, 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. Read more and access the report

strengthening FATO network

As a multidisciplinary organization aiming at promoting access to appropriate and equitable rehabilitation and mobility device services in Africa, thus improving the quality of life for persons who may benefit from rehabilitation and mobility devices services, FATO is developing its network of partners. Recently, FATO has signed four (4) collaboration agreements aiming at building synergies among stakeholders as FATO believes that outcome of working together is greater than the sum of individual actions.

International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO)

In November 2018, FATO signed a collaboration agreement with the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) to build synergy to ensure that an increasing number of people have access to appropriate rehabilitation, mobility devices and other assistive products and services.

 

For the first time, through this agreement, ISPO and FATO offer the possibility to apply for dual membership. With dual membership, individuals will benefit from reduced fees and several advantages such as reduced registration fees to attend both organisations’ congresses, access to ISPO and FATO Journals, etc.

 

As both organisations aim at the same objectives, it is natural that they increase their collaboration to join their efforts in promoting and ensuring that, based on best evidence, an increasing number of people in Africa have access to appropriate rehabilitation services including mobility devices and services. For more information please contact FATO secretariat: fato@fatoafrique.org

CBR Africa Network (CAN)

CBR Africa Network (CAN) is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation that facilitates information sharing on disability, CBR and inclusive d evelopment within Africa. It is the African regional affiliate of the CBR Global Network. CAN’s niche is information sharing to facilitate learning and improvement in service delivery for Persons with Disabilities, their organisations and families.  This is important in the bid to realise equalization of opportunities, social integration and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Africa. CAN was established in 2001 following resolutions made at the 1st CBR Africa Regional Conference: ‘CBR as a participatory strategy in Africa’. http://afri-can.org/

Occupational Therapy Africa Regional Group (OTARG)

The Occupational Therapy Africa Regional Group (OTARG) was formed as the regional representative for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) to promote Occupational Therapy in Africa by: Promoting co-operation amongst OT’s and OT Associations; Professional ethics; Facilitate regional exchange through placement of OTs and OT Students; Facilitate the exchange of information and advance the standards of practice in OT among other objectives. OTARG include 19 countries members.  http://otarg.org.za/

Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth of the university of rwanda (CEBE)

The University of Rwanda is hosting the East African Regional Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Engineering and e-Health, (UR-CEBE) aiming to provide leadership, intellectual capacity, and infrastructure required to accelerate the provision of cost-effective, technology-supported healthcare services in Rwanda and the surrounding region, with operation in an innovation, consultancy, and industry collaboration ecosystem to achieve high-impact results in support of key health services including medical equipment and devices, rehabilitation and mobility services, and eHealth services.

FATO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION’S NEWS 

REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The “Association pour le Développement de la Réadaptation et du Bien Etre (ADRBE)” from the Republic of the Congo, have published their annual report.  Click here to access the report (in French)

MADAGASCAR

The “Association des Techniciens Orthoprothésistes de Madagascar (ATOM)”, have published their annual report. Click here to access the report (in French)

SENEGAL

On October 2018, the « Association des Techniciens Orthoprothésiste du Sénégal (ATOS) » had organized their general assembly.  Click here to access the report (in French)

FATO PARTNER’S UPDATE

Occupational Therapy Africa Regional Group (OTARG)
11ème Congrès, 26 – 29 août, 2019
Kigali (Rwanda)

OTARG will hold his 11th Congress in Kigali (Rwanda) between August 26 and 29, 2019. The theme of the congress is “Giving back meaning to life: occupational therapy at the centre”. For more detail and to submit abstracts (open to all and not only to occupational therapists) : http://otarg.org.za/rwanda/

Click here to download the Summary

 Report of the 6th CBR Africa Conference

Click here to download the GATE Newsletter November 2018 – January 2019 

 

African Community on Assistive Technology
Joint us and share your expertise!

 The African Community on Assistive Technology (ACAT) is an active and growing virtual network aiming to progress the state of AT in Africa. AT is a powerful change agent however the WHO Global AFRO Region has extensive unmet need. Importantly there are exciting innovations and developments in appropriate and sustainable AT development and delivery worth celebrating, sharing and growing.

The Global Cooperation on AT (GATE) Network supports global and regional actions to improve access to high-quality affordable assistive technology. International Assistive Technology Professional Associations operate in many regions to connect and support AT users, researchers, practitioners, innovators, suppliers, policy makers and supporters. A vision for one in Africa was proposed at a GATE Summit, 2017 and ACAT was born with the support of Australia’s international Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology professional Association, ARATA (www.arata.org.au), in May 2018. ACAT currently has over 70 members from more than 12 countries.

The ACAT listserv shares information on research actions and opportunities, on practice questions, and global opportunities. An online repository of documents and resources has commenced. Raising awareness, both of resources and of evidence gaps, is spurring virtual discussions to identify ‘what good practice looks like’ and informing international and continental peers about the unique practice knowledge of Africa.

We invite members of FATO to sign up and contribute. The wealth of knowledge and experience of the physical rehabilitation and mobility device sector can greatly benefit the less developed parts of the AT world. Connecting across countries, sectors and horizons will further your learning and develop, and strengthen your own work and that of the entire AT sector.

Please contact subscriptions@acat.link to start connecting and sharing.

TATCOT is pleased to announce that admissions for the 2019-2020 academic year
are open.

The Tanzania Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists (TATCOT) located in Moshi (Tanzania) offers five distinct courses of study, which all are accredited by the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO):

Diploma in Orthopaedic Technology (3 years training programme)

  • Certificate in Lower Limb Prosthetic Technology (18 months training programme)
  • Certificate in Lower Limb Orthotic Technology (18 months training programme)
  • Certificate in Wheelchair Technology (12 months training programme)
  • Certificate in Spinal Orthotics (10 months training programme conducted through blended learning)

TATCOT is pleased to announce that admissions for the 2019-2020 academic year are open.

Important dates:

  • Beginning of applications: 2nd January 2019
  • Application deadline: 31st May 2019
  • Beginning of the course: 04th November 2019

For more information, please contact the Principal (Longini B. Mtalo) at: mtalo@kilinet.co.tz or visit our website: https://www.tatcot.org/index.html

CALENDRIER