CMHS conducted a community outreach week in Rulindo District

University of Rwanda is mandated to carry out three broad important missions ; training, research and community services. Rehabilitation progressively is oriented at community engagement because of decentralisation of its services and community outreach is one of the effective ways to reach out to underserved communities. Rehabilitation science programs at the school of health sciences organises community outreach activities annually. The outreach activities are aimed at the following ;
1. To contribute towards achieving the broader UR mission of community service
2. To collect community/industrial data that will inform curriculum
3. To serve the underserved sections of the population of Rulindo District
4. To enhance teaching and learning through hands on/practical experience
5. To explore new areas of community oriented research
Hands on training and community attachment is one of the strategies to achieve quality training.
It is against this background that the school of Health Sciences in partnership with Humanity and inclusion throughRehabilitation education programs (Physiotherapy, Occupation Therapy, Prosthetics & Orthotics ; and Ophthalmology)organized an Inter-professional community attachment of their respective students.
Stakeholders and the CMHS team met with Rulindo District officials led by the Vice Mayor social affairs in order to agree on the activities, plan, sample the appropriate setting and site visit. The exercise was successfully held in Rulindo District, Mbogo administrative sector from 4th-9thOctober 2021.
Rulindo District was included in the process of planning and sampling of sites where the activity will be carried out. This is basically due to need of service as perceived by the District. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select one administrative cell. Community sensitization and door to-door survey will be conducted by the interdisciplinary teams. Community leaders will assist and guide community entry. The Washington Group Short Set of Questions on Disability was used for screening Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), an individual assessment to identify the activity limitations, participation restriction, and rehabilitation needs using instrument developed based on the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) by interdisciplinary team of students and lecturers.

The Mayor and Vice Mayor of the District attended the presentation session

The CMHS team presented its findings to the district health sector administrators of Rulindo District

Staff had a meeting with health advisors in the community

CMHS students at the launch of the community outreach