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THE CBC HEALTH SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IS OFFERING TRAINING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REHABILITATION SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN CAMEROON

Background

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physiotherapy and the certificate course in CBR were informed by a number of factors including these:
- There is no centralized information about the number of Physiotherapists in the country.
- The report of a 2017 feasibility study indicated that only 12 private schools are authorized to enroll an average of 15 Physiotherapy candidates per year each and the output upon graduation falls below standards. The study also noted that there is a disparity in the number of trained physiotherapists compared to those practicing in hospitals.
- None of the schools train community-based rehabilitation workers.
- The feasibility study also found that most of the existing training programs lack practice opportunities during the training. Hands-on supervised clinical practicums and internships in well-developed hospitals is necessary in order to graduate competent professionals, but this has not always been the situation with PT training in Cameroon.
The above points motivated the CBC Health Services to apply for a grant to develop Physiotherapy and CBR trainings for a better quality and wider range of rehabilitation services in Cameroon. This is an important step towards achieving international and national rehabilitation goals.
Goal

Our goal is the prevention of disabilities as well as the effective rehabilitation and inclusion of persons with disabilities and people at risk of acquiring disabilities.
Bachelor of science course in physiotherapy
1. Skills
The trainees will acquire skills that will prepare them to;
- Improve on people’s physical activity and their quality of life
- Carry out modern practice that focuses on the patient while also working with their families and other health care professionals to support rehabilitation and wellbeing, while also developing their inter-professional and interpersonal skills
2.The Curriculum

Standards: The curriculum is based on international standards (World Confederation of Physical Therapists) with input from qualified PT curriculum development specialists from several countries plus Cameroonian Physiotherapists, and adapted to the Cameroon context.

Approach: Our approach is holistic with blended learning used to offer opportunity for both interactive digital learning and traditional face-to-face encounter between teachers and students. Classes will be onsite at the Baptist Institute of Health Sciences, Mbingo Baptist Hospital. Hands-on active learning and evidence-based treatment will be emphasized throughout the curriculum.

Special attention is paid to people living with disabilities. Students will also have the experience of field education practicums with the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID).

All courses include both theory and didactic components and practical, hands-on learning. Each of the courses includes 25% – 50% active learning (hands-on practice, class discussion, case-based learning, etc.) Following the educational philosophy of the Baptist Institute, training includes three knowledge aspects: academics, clinical skills, and personal/professional growth. The core values of the CBC Health Services Physiotherapy Departments will be both modeled by faculty and taught to students. The core values are these: Compassion, Excellence, Respect, Holistic Care, Integrity, and Job Satisfaction.

The first year of study is primarily basic biomedical sciences, social sciences, the government-required university courses and introductions to both patient care and physiotherapy. The physiotherapy courses and clinical practicums begin the second year.
Training and Internships

The Baptist Institute of Health Sciences at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital is in a beautiful rural setting. There is ample space for classrooms, practice rooms, conference rooms and a library. The well-equipped, up to date library includes both medical, social sciences, and physiotherapy and rehabilitation resources in both soft and hard books as well as other didactic materials to facilitate teaching and learning. The internet is accessible throughout the hospital, classrooms and library for student research.

In addition, the Institute is strategically situated on the compound of a large teaching hospital with an active physiotherapy department.

With respect to internship locations, six internship sites have already been approved for students’ internships.

The course duration is 4 years.
Quality Assurance

As quality improvement is the main reason to start professional rehabilitation courses, a quality assurance system has been put in place to ensure that the quality of the training program is maintained and developed.

This system shall cover: teaching and learning, research, internships, student support services, CBR field experience, and governance and administration.
How distinct is our course?

Trainees receive support from a team of national and international professional teaching staff and experienced Physiotherapists.

These professionals expose trainees to high-quality hands-on experience in the CBC Health Services renowned hospitals noted for providing some of the best Physiotherapy services in the country.
The Faculty

Following international standards, all courses are taught by qualified faculty or adjunct lecturers who hold Master’s degrees or higher qualifications. Teaching assistants and laboratory assistants hold Bachelor’s degrees or above, and are always under the supervision of the faculty member or adjunct lecturer. Some courses will be through Zoom or Google Meet and taught by international faculty.

Mbingo Baptist Hospital has a range of specialist medical doctors, and other doctoral-level staff, as it is a referral teaching hospital. These will be available to teach some courses such as pathophysiology.
Entry Qualification
- A minimum of two GCE A-level papers or its equivalence including biology and one other science subject.
- O-level pass in English (or for applicants from the French educational system, English pass at the Baccalaureate level)
- Basic computer skills
- Pass the entrance exam
The course is open to anyone with the above qualifications, both young people out of high school and internal staff of the CBC health services.

Women and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Partial scholarships funded by the Liliane and AFAS Foundations will be provided to Physiotherapy workers of the CBC Health Services and Partner organizations who show commitment to continue serving in their organizations after the training.

Persons with disabilities will also be considered for scholarships.

The application process will be open soon.

For more information contact 676 22 12 60 or email: BaptistInstituteofHealth@gmail.com or MbingoTraining@gmail.com.

FIRST EVER FORMAL COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION COURSE IN CAMEROON

The CBC Health Services and a few other organisations have been providing Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) services in Cameroon but there have been gaps in the provision of these services. This is largely due to the fact that there is no formal CBR Professional Training course in the country.

The CBC Health Services has decided to close the gap in the rehabilitation landscape in Cameroon by starting the first ever Professional Certificate course in Community Based Rehabilitation as informed by the study carried out to thoroughly assess professional rehabilitation education landscape in Cameroon.

Skills

This course will give enable trainees acquire the knowledge, skills, attitude to be able to identify, assess and meet the rehabilitation and empowerment needs of persons with disabilities in the areas of health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment.

Trainers

The course will be delivered by a wide range of professionals including Baptist Training School for Health Personnel (BTSHP) tutors and CBR staff as well as carefully selected and trained leaders of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

Our trainings are competency-based which exposes trainees to high-quality hands-on experience in our renowned hospitals and community based rehabilitation organizations all over Cameroon.

Internships

The Baptist Training School for Health Personnel Banso has sufficient space to host this program, both in class rooms, practice rooms and in boarding facilities. In addition, it is strategically situated on the compound of a hospital with access to practice settings and also to co-lecturers and practice supervisors. Students will also go for internships in Community Based Rehabilitation organizations all over Cameroon.

Course Duration: 1 year

Entry Qualification:

GCE O-level including English or French,
2 years’ experience in the field of disability, rehabilitation or an allied discipline for internal candidates
Cameroonians of both sexes, age 18 to 40 years.

The course is open all candidates who have CBR working experience; CBC Health Services EDID Partner Organisations, staff from CBC Health Services EDID Partner Organisations, staff working in the social domain from Ministry of Social Affairs and other government ministries, as well as staff from other national and international organisations intervening in the field of disability.

Qualified persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Partial scholarships funded by the Liliane and AFAS Foundations will be provided to CBR Field workers of the CBC Health Services and Partner organizations who show commitment to continue serving in their organizations after the training.

Persons with disabilities will also be considered for scholarships.

For more information contact 677 50 07 37, email: nkwanjacobgobte@gmail.com

Train with us and become a highly sought for rehabilitation professional in and out of Cameroon