We are pleased to announce the beginning of the Samoa Integrated Mobility Device Services (SIMDES) project. This new project will be a four year (2014 – 2018) collaboration between the Samoa National Health Service (NHS), NOLA (Nuanua O Le Alofa) and Motivation Australia.
This project is working to create consistent, equitable and sustainable access to appropriate mobility device provision for women, men, girls and boys with a mobility disability in Samoa.
This project is part of the larger Samoa Disability Programme (SDP) with the goal of disability-inclusive policy and implementation across Government, DPO and service provider organisations. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) are the coordinating Ministry and focal point for disability for the Government of Samoa and have ownership of the Samoa Disability Programme (SDP). Both the broader SDP and this project are funded by Australian Aid.
This project represents a tremendous opportunity for all stakeholders; with broad support from the Samoan government; a brand new purpose-built facility; the training of new professionals and the potential for new career pathways in allied health service provision for Samoans.
The project embraces the idea of integrating services for wheelchairs, supportive seating, Prosthetics & Orthotics (P&O) and other devices (such as walkers, crutches, walking sticks and white canes) into one mobility device department.
The Samoa Integrated Mobility Device Services (SIMDES) project is focused on:
- Services – Establishing a comprehensive, mobility device service at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) hospital in Apia.
- Community services – Increasing the role of community-based GOs and NGOs in mobility device service provision.
- Sustainable training – Improving the quality and sustainability of training in mobility device service delivery; and increasing the quantity of clinicians and technicians trained in mobility device provision.
- Equitable access to services – Increasing the awareness of and equity of access to appropriate mobility device service provision for women, children and people from rural areas.
Project partners
The Samoa NHS is responsible for the delivery of health services on behalf of the Government of Samoa, and is the primary partner for this project. The Mobility Device Service will be housed in a new purpose built building (also planned and funded by Australian Aid) in the grounds of TTM hospital in Apia.
NOLA is the National DPO (Disabled People’s Organisation) and the civil society focal point for people with disabilities. NOLA is a member of Disabled Peoples International (DPI), and an active member of PDF (Pacific Disability Forum).