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Training of Rehabilitation Specialists

NRCD accepted 862 rehabilitation specialists from 59 countries and region and provided information and technologies on rehabilitation through training for these 36 years. Ex-trainees are contributing to improve rehabilitation and develop human resources in their own countries as leading persons.

Region
Over 80% are from Asia. 10% are from Latin America and the Caribbean who participated in JICA training programs.


Total 862 people

Major field of the trainees
Around 80% of trainees are engaged in medical rehabilitation (physicians, physical therapists, prosthetists and orthotists and nurses). It means technical support to medical rehabilitation is expected to NRCD.
Even to specialists of medical rehabilitation, NRCD prepares training programs such as vocational rehabilitation and social skills training to promote understanding of overall of rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.


Total 862 people

Reports by ex-trainees

Philippines

Paul Matthew S. Jiao
Training on Application of Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities
from June 17th to June 28th, 2019


PHOTO:Paul Matthew S. Jiao
I am Dr. Paul Matthew Jiao, a rehabilitation medicine doctor from the Philippines. I finished my residency and fellowship training at the Philippine General Hospital. I am now taking further studies in Health Policy in the University of the Philippines. I am very grateful to be here in Japan National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities to learn more about assistive technology and health policy.
The practice of rehabilitation medicine in the Philippines is relatively young. The first Filipino rehabilitation medicine doctors were trained abroad and returned to the Philippines in the 1950s. As the number of rehabilitation medicine doctors increased, the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine was formed in 1974.
Japan has played a big role in the advancement of rehabilitation medicine in the Philippines. A good number of Filipino physiatrists received training in electromyography and other subspecialties from Japanese mentors. Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), rehabilitation professionals have also received further training in prosthetics and orthotics and other fields. There are also several collaborative researches conducted by Japanese and Filipino researchers.
The Philippines is currently working towards the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In Japan, there is extensive health coverage for rehabilitation services. We have much to learn from the efficient and effective policy mechanisms utilized by Japan in providing accessible medical care to patients in need of rehabilitation.
Through my stay in the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, I have learned much from the Japanese rehabilitation service delivery system. There is an efficient use of resources. Rehabilitation services are well-coordinated and easily accessible. The use of assistive technology is maximized to provide comprehensive rehabilitation care. Patients are not only supported during medical rehabilitation, but social workers play a strong role in helping patients reintegrate as productive members of society.
The rehabilitation medicine community in the Philippines has also been working hard to further improve the services for persons with disabilities. There are valuable lessons we can adopt from the Japanese rehabilitation service delivery system. It is my hope that we can implement these lessons in our country and make rehabilitation and assistive technology more available to persons with disabilities.

Philippines

Carlo Felix Hernando Adraneda
Training on Low Vision Care for Persons with Visual Impairments
from June 4th to July 25th, 2019


PHOTO:Carlo Felix Hernando Adraneda
Konichiwa.

I am Dr. Carlo Felix H. Adraneda, an Ophthalmologist from the Philippines. I have been practicing general ophthalmology for more than 5 years in a private and government hospital. In my short time of practice, I have seen a fair number of patients with Low Vision problems and some even bilaterally blind.

The Philippines has over 2 million people that are either Blind or suffering from Low Vision according to the Department of Health Blindness Survey 2017. We also have limited resources for these cases and a limited number of specialists to tend to their needs. This is the reason why I wanted to learn about Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation.

I searched for hospitals and eye centers providing Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation training. National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities (NRCD) in Saitama Japan was one of them. I submitted my application and I was very fortunate to have been accepted to train in their institution.

National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities was the perfect place to train. During my previous travels to Japan, I have noticed that they have a good healthcare system for the blind and visually impaired patients. Japan has implemented nationwide strategies for the welfare of these patients. The yellow tactile tiles that you see all over the major streets of Japan is one of them. This is placed to guide the blind and visually impaired when walking the streets.

During my stay at NRCD, I learned many things regarding Low Vision Rehabilitation. From the basics of Low Vision to the use of proper visual aids according to the patient’s needs. The hospital was well equipped with diagnostic tools for assessment of visual problems. They have a complete array of optical aids for low vision patients and non-optical aids for assistance of their daily activities. Everything was according to International Standards and was well maintained. The hospital was very spacious and clean. The patients were able to seek medical consult and get proper treatments in a very comfortable environment.

NRCD is also one of the leading institutions in the field of research on Rehabilitation and Prosthetics. Advancements in Neuro-regeneration and Assistive Technology for the disabled persons are some of the researches being done here.

But the most important lessons I learned from the doctors, optometrists, social workers and staff of NRCD was that they showed compassion and holistic care for their patients. Every patient was treated individually with respect and kindness.

They made sure that their patients get the proper attention and provided treatments geared towards an optimal quality of life despite their disability. Every detail of the patient’s daily activity was given attention. The family and relatives were also given a part for the patient’s well-being. They made sure that their patients were able to live a good quality of life despite their disabilities.

NRCD is a great place to learn how to provide medical, social, and rehabilitative assistance to disabled persons. I hope they continue teaching international trainees like me in order to bring the quality of health service needed in our respective countries.

More power and good health to everyone in NRCD. Thank you very much for everything that you have done.



Activities by ex-trainees

China

Dr. Zhang Xu in Ansahn City

Dr. Zhang Xu had strong will to support persons with disabilities and received short period training at NRCD. Dr. Xu is working energetically to support persons with disabilities of Ansahn City through home visit and educational programs.

PHOTO:Dr. Zhang (center) at University in USA
Dr. Zhang (center) at University in USA

Iran

Mr. Pashai Mohammad

Mr. Pashai got injury in Japan and established NPO with a strong will to support improvement of life of persons with disabilities of his mother country Iran. He is addressing a variety of activities such as donation of wheelchairs and beds for people with spinal cord injury and other disabilities in Iran, conducting training program in Iran by inviting Japanese rehabilitation specialists, and providing training program in Japan for specialists of rehabilitation medicine of Iran. Recently, he and his NPO in Japan established a NGO in Iran and started activities to support persons with disabilities.
He received training with PTs from Iran at NRCD in 2016 again.

PHOTO:Mr. Pashai (the left of the front)and physical therapists from Iran at NRCD (2016)
Mr. Pashai (the left of the front)and physical therapists from Iran at NRCD (2016)