JoannaGriffin

I've been in Ethiopia for five months now and my feet haven't touched the ground. My work here in Gondar has mostly involved working with the student physiotherapists- lecturing, supervising them on clinical placements, conducting their examinations and supervising their undergraduate research. I have particularly enjoyed the clinical supervision as it enables me to spend time with patients without worrying about the language barrier (which I am addressing but very slowly!)

I've also been involved in capacity building the qualified physiotherapy staff who are all recent graduates (within the past three years) as the profession is so new here. In collaboration with another VSO volunteer in the department I have developed a regular in- service training programme so that the staff have access to continuing professional development. We're trying to introduce the concept of evidence based practice (integrating up to date research findings into clinical practice) as the books used by the department are very outdated and through this we are trying to modernise some of the practices.

As well as clinical training we are introducing the physiotherapists to some professional issues. The department has come a really long way since it opened a few years ago and now that physiotherapy is up and running we are trying to develop policies within the department which enhance clinical efectiveness and consider important issues such as patient confidentiality and consent and provision of information to patients- concepts which are really taken for granted at home.

A major part of my role has also been the development of a Masters curriculum in physiotherapy which is greatly needed here. As I have mentioned there is little opportunity for continuing development and the development of a generation of physios with a high level of expertise. In between my other responsibilities I have been developing a curriculum proposal which is soon due in and it has been challenging and interesting making it specific to the needs of Ethiopia which makes it quite different form the currliculums on offer at home. I am certainly on a huge learning curve!

So, as you can see, my work has been busy and challenging but highly varied and interesting. I can hardly remember my work at home as it is all so different here- not least of all the patients who come from the rural areas in droves at the beginning of the day and flood the physiotherapy gym and the area outside the department with their families and caregivers. It is certainly lively!!

We have our first departmental staff meeting tomorrow which we have set up and so it will be nice to meet as a department and discuss the way forward! I am looking forward to seeing the students graduate shortly as this will feel like the first achievement. My plans for next year include further curriculum development in preparation for the beginning of the MSc and conducting a small scale reseach project in the department on a condition which is highly prevalent in Ethiopia. I would like to involve the physiotherapy staff and think it would be really motivating for them to conduct some research which is specific to their country. I'm not sure if it is a little ambitious but nothing ventured.....

I am going to Addis for a language course at the end of the month to try to improve my Amharic and I will try to send some photos of me at work when I can.