Rehabilitation Initiative (Goma, DRC)

Decades of violent conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C) have left a wake of children with extensive traumatic injuries and untreated congenital disabilities. These children have a tremendous need for physical therapy that overburdened and undertrained local providers struggle to meet.  In 2009, the International Pediatric Outreach Project (IPOP) sent physical therapists Loran Hollander and Laura Keyser to help local providers begin to address these vast rehabilitation needs. Loran and Laura are based in Goma, North Kivu, working with our partner organization Heal Africa, to launch the Rehabilitation Initiative. 

Loran and Laura completed an 18-month tour of service in September of 2010.  In their tour, Loran and Laura designed and implemented a curriculum that included over 100 hours of formal didactic instruction and countless hours of one-on-one clinical mentorship in the rehabilitation clinics of Heal Africa Hospital and the Hospital for the Handicapped. They trained “orthopedic officers” and physical therapists in the identification, management, and prevention of the common musculoskeletal and neurological impairments in this region. Their curriculum will continue to be used after they have left.  To read a letter of thanks from their partner in Goma, click here.

In October of 2011, Laura returned to re-inforce training and update the curriculum (Click here to read her trip report).  Loran will return in mid-2012 ensure the sustainability of this sucessful program.