Using CLA Approach to Implement Tele-Rehabilitation in Ensuring Access

USAID’s Physical Rehabilitation Activity (PRA) aims to establish a sustainable and integrated public–private partnership for rehabilitation system in order to improve the mobility and functional independence of victims of conflict and  disasters, other adults and children in need of physical rehabilitation services in Nepal.  The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown posed challenges to uninterrupted delivery of rehabilitation services and resulted in the temporary closure of  Physical Rehabilitation Centers (PRCs)  supported by PRA that provided services across seven provinces of Nepal, limiting access to critical rehabilitation services.  The policies related to tele-medicine provided a framework for  implementing tele-rehabilitation services in Nepal to ensure continuity and improved access to physical rehabilitation services.

PRA's Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approaches for tele-rehabilitation included: assessment of technical competencies of PRA, readiness assessment of  PRCs for tele-rehabilitation, possible collaborations with key stakeholders, execution and adaptations based on learnings and technical evidence.  

There are noteworthy improvements in service delivery, access to physical rehabilitation services, enhanced program outcomes, and scalability. Altogether 1,742 people (1,088-Male; 654-Female) were benefited from tele-rehabilitation services during March 2020-December 2023 CLA facilitated the development of a tele-rehabilitation protocol  in  mid 2022 during implementation of post-covid activities. The application of the CLA approach has remarkably contributed to the attainment of objective   of PRA. The project has objective to foster collaboration, improving access to quality physical rehabilitation services across the country. It has positioned PRA as a leading entity  in the field of tele-rehabilitation services in Nepal.