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Research activities in Rwanda and Kenya have started

DIRECT project’s team members Kari-Pekka Murtonen and Michael Oduor from Jamk travelled to Rwanda and Kenya in September-October 2022 to enhance the cooperation with our partners, conduct research activities, create connections with rehabilitation professionals, and explore other collaboration opportunities with researchers and stakeholders from the two countries.

Learning about pilot users’ experiences in Rwanda

The main aim in Rwanda was to conduct interviews, visit rehabilitation centres and other possible research sites in addition to holding further discussions with representatives from the University of Rwanda, our main project partner, and Rwanda Biomedical Center/Ministry of Health, to strengthen our cooperation.

In Rwanda, we mostly worked with Jean Damascene Bigirimana, Jamk Community Manager and CEO of HealthEdu Ltd, whose team helped to plan and schedule the interviews in Kigali. Because of unforeseen circumstances, we could not conduct interviews as planned in Musanze District, a mostly rural region in the Northern Province. During the week and a half spent in Rwanda, we did 23 interviews to learn about the experiences of patients and professionals participating in the Physitrack pilot including using the system, how it helped professionals in their work, and interaction with patients. Moreover, the overall rehabilitation needs, the barriers to accessing rehabilitation services, and using digital rehabilitation solutions were discussed during the interviews.

Most of the patient interviews had to be conducted in the local language, Kinyarwanda, so the primary researcher’s role was limited to observation and clarification when needed. This turned out to be an advantage because the interviewees communicated more freely as they could express themselves in their natural language. This led to richer conversations which addressed contextual issues that may not otherwise have come up. Another advantage was conducting most interviews at the institutions where professionals met with patients, which did not adversely interfere with their own work schedules or require much additional planning. Thus, we saved time and observed the professionals’ day-to-day activities in their normal working environments

During our time in Kigali, we visited a rehabilitation hospital, a day care centre for children with severe disabilities, and the Rwandese Football Association.

Research locations where interviews were conducted

Two of the locations we visited and where we conducted interviews in Kigali

Strengthening the cooperation in Kenya

In Kenya, the main objectives were to discuss the terms of cooperation with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and plan the application of ethical clearance for research activities. Due to scheduling challenges, we could not meet with representatives from the Ministry of Health, rehabilitation associations and institutions representing persons with disabilities. Dr. Nassib Tawa, Senior Lecturer and Lead Researcher from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences facilitated the meeting with the Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Reuben Thuo, and other representatives from JKUAT. We also had productive discussions with Valtter Louhivuori, the Business Development Manager for the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd (Finnfund) about future investment possibilities. 

Participants of a meeting in Kenya

Meeting in Kenya with representatives of JKUAT

Valuable information was received from professionals and patients

Our partners from Rwanda and Kenya are quite enthusiastic about the project and interested in developing further joint activities. The interviews and visits to various institutions in Rwanda were insightful, and the respondents were responsive and positive about our research and its objectives. Both patients and professionals gave an informative overview of the challenges in accessibility and availability of rehabilitation, how digital solutions can help address some of the existing challenges and complement the professionals’ work. The professionals had a positive outlook about the future developments in their profession based on ongoing discussions at the Ministry of Health to acknowledge the importance of rehabilitation. Interacting with end users in their natural environments provided additional information and insights that we might have missed.

The role of local partners is important  

Overall, the trip highlighted the project’s potential impact and the important role our local partners have in ensuring its success, a symbiotic relationship in which we not only exchange expertise but learn from different cultures and the inherent opportunities and limitations of the context we are operating in. Therefore, it is important to have a presence and be actively involved in research and coordination of activities in the operational environment as this strengthens the cooperation with the local partners.

Michael Oduor

Tutkija, Researcher
Kuntoutusinstituutti, Institute of Rehabilitation
Hyvinvointi, School of Health and Social Studies
+358505675430