On a trip to Fiji in May, Motivation Australia (MA) had the opportunity to provide basic level wheelchair service training to seventeen personnel from the Fiji Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Frank Hilton organisation and Kiribati’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
The eight day training course utilised material from the WHO Wheelchair Service Training Package – basic level (WSTPb) and included a mix of theoretical and practical sessions. Participants got the opportunity to put some of their new skills into practice by providing eighteen wheelchair users with new, appropriate wheelchairs and cushions.
Another fantastic outcome of the training was the opportunity for Kiribati’s Taukoriri Tibirianoto to complete his Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. Taikoriri, who is a Physiotherapist at Tungaru Rehabilitation Service, attended the WSTPb ToT course in Bangkok in October 2016. The WSTPb in Fiji allowed him to co-train with MA Trainers Katrina McGrath and Julian Silveri.
Congratulations to Taukoriri on this achievement – the first WSTPb trainer in the Pacific Region to complete the ToT.
The in country visit was also a great opportunity to meet with our partners to discuss broader aspects of wheelchair service delivery. As part of this, MA facilitated a Wheelchair Service Network meeting to support personnel working in the Western and Northern Division of Fiji to improve access to wheelchairs and strengthen their service systems.
MA would like to thank the SIA for their support in making the training a success. MA also acknowledges and thanks the donors for this activity: USAID (through Management Sciences for Health’s Leadership, Management and Governance Project) and the Australian Government (through the Australian Non-Government Cooperation Programme).
MA also thanks LDS Charities for their ongoing support for wheelchair services in Fiji, through donation of appropriate wheelchairs to the SIA for use in the training, and further service provision. Final thanks to the SIA, FHO, the Fiji and Kiribati MHMS and the training participants for their great commitment towards improving services for people with disabilities in Fiji and Kiribati.
Final thanks to the SIA, FHO, the Fiji and Kiribati MHMS and the training participants for their great commitment towards improving services for people with disabilities.