Prosthetist & Orthotist Technical Advisor - Uganda

MISSION CONTEXT

Between 2009 and 2013, Handicap International was present in Uganda implementing Mine Risk Education activities. These activities concluded in 2013 when Uganda was declared free of mines in 2012.

In October 2017, HI launched its new programme directed at the refugee response in Arua District, West Nile region. HI is currently implementing psychosocial support services, community-based rehabilitation, protection of persons with specific needs, and disability inclusion. These actions are implemented in Omugo Settlement, the extension of Rhino Camp Settlement where most new refugees are being settled, and Imvepi Settlement. HI is now expanding it’s rehabilitation project under BPRM funding from September 2018, in consortia with Medical Teams International (MTI) to cover all three settlements in Arua District (Omugo, Imvepi and Rhino).

In January 2019, HI is launching an innovative project under DFID funding under the Global Disability Innovation Fund: 3D Printing through Emergency Tele Rehab Access (3D-PETRA) which will bring appropriate, life changing orthopedic devices to people in need in Arua District. The aim of the Project is to develop effective solutions combining telemedicine, CAD CAM and 3D printing, in order to provide and increase access to orthotic devices for use in emergencies and remote settings:

These actions comprise the four components of HI’s Uganda Refugee Response Strategy. The total mission portfolio is 1.8 million EURO, implemented by a staff of over 60 and 20 volunteers. The current activities are limited to Arua District, HI will expand the scope to other refugee areas including other districts in Northern Uganda hosting South Sudanese refugee populations, and the Congolese refugee sites in Western Uganda.

HI is legally registered in Uganda having obtained the NGO Permit, the Certificate of Incorporation, and the Memorandum of Understanding from the Office of the Prime Minister. These legal documents are required to implement activities in Uganda. HI’s Head Office is in Kampala, and field operations are based in the office in Arua Town. In May, HI will set-up a deep field station in Omugo settlement were field staff will reside and operate.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Trainings:

• Face to face refresher capacity building sessions in the field of orthosis to the 4 P&O from Arua Hospital. Those trainings will be coordinated with the Rehab TA who will also provide refresher trainings. The sessions aims having the same P&O practices and approaches and defining a standardized protocol of treatment for each orthopaedic appliance (identification of the patients, clinical evaluation, measurement, fitting, delivery);


• Face to face refresher capacity building sessions in the field of orthosis to HI PT and Arua Hospital PT. Those trainings will be coordinated with the Rehab TA who will also provide refresher trainings for the same persons. The sessions aims having the same practice and approaches and defining a standardized protocol of treatment for each orthopaedic appliance;


• Distance and face-to-face evaluations of the trainings provided;


• Trainings to HI PT and Arua hospital P&O and PT for the use of scanner for the measurements of the patients.

Technical support to the rehabilitation teams of the Project:

• Distance and face to face follow up of the treatment process for each patient of the Project: from the clinical evaluation until the delivery of the devices and the control session. The P&O TA is validating each discharge of patient;


• In charge to provide the necessary tools or process for the HI team in the camps and for Arua Hospital P&O and PT;


• Answer to the technical questions of the project team.

Demonstrate an ethical and professional practice:

• Respect beneficiary confidentiality.


• Address needs and requests in a professional way.


• Report any incident or act that causes any harm to beneficiary or to others.


• Always interact with children with the presence of their parents or caregivers


• Always ask the permission to touch or to apply any treatment or exercise on a patient.


• Always respect a refusal of treatment.


• Show abilities and competences to execute an efficient rehabilitation intervention.

Technical support to the Project:

• Design of the process of fitting and design of the necessary tools, forms, communication processes for the protocol of test, in strong collaboration with the 3D Expert.


• Manage the 3D Printing Technician for the printing process of the orthoses


• Support to the administrative team in term of supply, orders…;


• Support to logistic team for the purchase and shipment needs;


• Manage the CORSU missions during the entire Process

Coordination:

• Coordination with the 3D Expert Consultant and the CAD CAM supplier, ensuring that the tools and communications are aligned with the existing process in place.


• Alert for any issues regarding the plan of action.


• Report data, follow-up cases and organize daily and weekly activities


• Develop the appropriate 3D project design to ensure effective roll-out in the community


• Coordinate with CORSU for the good organisation of the missions.


• Any other reports to be made upon line manager request

PROFILE SOUGHT

Qualification(s):

• Bachelor degree in P&O Science (Cat I).

Competencies:

• Previous experience in humanitarian field would be an asset;


• Organisational skills;


• Experience in Africa would be an asset;


• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;


• Ability to work under pressure;


• Flexibility to travel frequently;


• English mandatory (oral and written), French is an asset

Personal qualities:

• Advanced writing capacities in English


• Particularly strong interpersonal and communication skills


• Special ease at collaborative work, participatory approach


• Excellent team worker; ability to create dynamic and very positive working relations including at distance, with high level of mutual confidence and solidarity


• Positive and constructive personality, very composed, solution-oriented and with a high level of professional maturity