ReLAB-HS works to identify effective, scalable approaches for integrating rehabilitation and AT into health systems. In Burma, ReLAB-HS facilitated interviews and reflections using a good practice case study approach adapted from the Most Significant Change and the Framework Method to explore activities or initiatives working to improve the access of persons in need of rehabilitation […]
Uganda has a long legacy of supporting clubfoot treatment. The current clubfoot treatment program is the National Clubfoot Programme of Uganda (NCPU), which began in 2017 and aimed to revitalize clubfoot treatment through strong integration into the health system. To learn from the NCPU and how it is integrated into Uganda’s health system, ReLAB-HS conducted […]
ReLAB-HS completed activities in Burma in September 2023. While working in a challenging setting affected by political instability and conflict, ReLAB-HS made important progress in advancing the rehabilitation agenda in Burma since its launch in June 2021. Working with local stakeholders, ReLAB-HS identified opportunities to strengthen rehabilitation and AT services in the country’s informal health […]
This comprehensive Guidance Note highlights the significance of the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution “Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems” which outlines commitments for Member States, WHO, and stakeholders to improve access to rehabilitation services. This Guidance Note has been developed to facilitate the translation of the WHA Resolution into action through local and national advocacy […]
This document discusses the pressing need for rehabilitation and assistive technology (AT) services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and conflict-affected areas. The five-year global initiative, Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS), funded by USAID, focuses on addressing this need in Pakistan. Pakistan’s health system, burdened with challenges, struggles to meet […]
Rehabilitation, encompassing essential components such as assistive technology (AT), is a critical yet overlooked facet of Pakistan’s health system. Despite approximately 47 million people facing health conditions that could benefit from rehabilitation, it is inadequately prioritized. This study by Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) delves into the socioeconomic and political […]
On September 21, 2023, at the United Nations High-Level Meeting, world leaders adopted a new Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Despite contentious geopolitical issues interfering with negotiations and threatening its adoption, United Nations Member States reached consensus on the declaration, demonstrating the political will to work toward realizing the right to health for […]
This policy brief by Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) addresses the urgent need for accessible rehabilitation and assistive technology in Uganda. Despite being a priority, rehabilitation services remain underfunded. The study conducted qualitative analysis through document reviews and key informant interviews to understand the challenges and identify strategies for elevating […]
[updated 20 Dec. 2023] The need for accessible rehabilitation and assistive technology services is urgent and growing in Uganda. As in many low-income countries, Uganda is struggling to implement World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for establishing rehabilitation and assistive technology as essential components of quality health services within the framework of universal health coverage. Meanwhile, […]
Technologies such as tablet-based assessment tools, centralized databases, and tools for supported decision-making are playing an important role in many community interventions, including health, rehabilitation, and inclusive development. The use of technological innovations for physical rehabilitation in low-resource settings is an under-researched area. One encouraging example is the use of an innovative digital technology to […]
