Community based rehabilitation

WCPT is committed to the development of primary health care and community based rehabilitation

A motion was passed at the 14th General Meeting of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) in May 1999 that WCPT develop a plan to recognise and promote the role of physical therapists in community based rehabilitation (CBR). The motion was the result of a workshop, research, and discussion in the Africa region to develop a regional profile of CBR, and in particular, to document the role, involvement, and opinion of physical therapists in CBR in Africa.

The WCPT Executive Committee asked the Africa region to help in developing a discussion paper and questionnaire to send to member organisations. This was done and circulated to member organisations in June 2002. A request for information on primary heath care was also circulated given the current worldwide health care reform in this area and the close relationship between primary health care and community based rehabilitation.

Following the 15th General Meeting of WCPT in June 2003 a programme of work in this area was approved by WCPT's member organisations.

To date:

• A new policy statemement on primary health care has been approved
• A new policy statement on community based rehabilitation has been approved
• The policy statement on education has been revised
• A summary of the results of WCPT's community based rehabilitation survey has been distributed to member organisations
• WCPT has actively contributed to the international review of community based rehabilitation
• The results of the survey and supplementary literature review were presented at the WCPT Congress June 2003
• A primary health care and community based rehabilitation strand of events was identified and promoted at the WCPT Congress June 2003
• A briefing paper on community based rehabilitation and primary health care, resulting from the work above, has been produced
• This area of the website has been initiated and will continue to be developed
• WCPT keynote publications include topics on community based rehabilitation
• WCPT has established an electronic discussion list for physical therapists interested in primary health care and community based rehabilitation
• WCPT is working proactively to raise its profile with international organisations, including leading non-governmental organisations and disabled people's organisations, to raise the profile of physical therapy and further the development of primary health care and community based rehabilitation to benefit clients

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) guidelines

WHO, in partnership with other UN agencies, collaborating centres and non-governmental organisations has published guidelines for CBR. The CBR matrix gives an overall visual representation of CBR. It consists of five key components; health, education, social, livelihood and empowerment, each divided into five key elements. Each of these elements has a dedicated chapter in the guidelines.

The Community-based rehabilitation guidelines:

• Provide guidance on how to develop and strengthen CBR programmes;
• Promote CBR as a strategy for community-based development involving people with disabilities;
• Support stakeholders to meet the basic needs and enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families;
• Encourage the empowerment of people with disabilities and their families.

Download the guidelines from the WHO website.

Achievement of the Millenium Development Goals for People with Disabilities

In support of the UN International day of Persons with Disabilities 2010 a WHO DAR paper discusses the Achievement of the Millenium Development Goals for People with Disabilities and the role CBR can play.

International review of community based rehabilitation

The international review of community based rehabilitation was organised by the Disability and Rehabilitation team of WHO, in collaboration with other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. A consultation meeting took place in Helsinki , Finland 25-28 May 2003, hosted by the Government of Finland. WCPT actively contributed to this consultation, through liaison with WHO, the submission of material and the participation of a WCPT delegate in the Helsinki meeting.

Access the background papers for the meeting.

The revised positiion statement on community based rehabilitation from ILO, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF and WHO is available from the WHO website.

WCPT has no control over the content or condition of any external sites linked to from this site. These links are provided for the convenience of users but they do not imply any endorsement of any organisation, product, or service.

Feedback on this section is welcomed. Please notify Tracy at tbury@wcpt.org of any problems with links and suggestions for additions. Information in languages other than English would be particularly welcome.