Optometrist & Orthopedic offering specialized services to children attending Schools Managed/Supported by Finn Church Aid (FCA) in Kalobeyei

Introduction

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is the lead partner mandated by UNHCR to provide quality inclusive education services to refugees within Kalobeyei settlement camp. It currently serves an estimated population of 36,019 refugees from Kalobeyei settlement camp drawn from different nationalities including South Sudanese, Somali, Sudanese, Ethiopians, and Great lakes (Congolese, Burundians, and Rwandese).

Regarding this, FCA intends to procure assistive devices for learners with various impairments thus it requires prior measurements for user compatibility and suitability depending on the individual needs.

To ensure quality and professionalism in the provision of assistive devices we wish to procure the services from technical experts to undertake the measurements.

FCA requires the services of an Optometrist and Orthopedic. The specialized service providers will assess the learners in the 6 FCA managed schools and 2 Host community schools supported by FCA. These learners have been subjected to the UNICEF Child Functioning Module to assess their susceptibility under various categories of impairments. So far, we have 307(125F,182M) learners who took part in the survey ready for assessment and screening process.

This will help promote and reduce educational barriers among learners with disabilities by encouraging disability mainstreaming in FCA schools and ensure that every child has access to quality and inclusive education

Objectives of the activity

To assess, take measurements and make recommendations for learners with various impairments to inform on assistive devices procurement.

This will help in speeding up the process of acquiring the assistive devices within the procurement period.

Rationale for conducting the activity

• This will foster provision of the right size, quality devices and reduce any further damage that may occur due to existing or acquired impairment caused by wrong size prescription through estimation.
• It is the standard and approved procedure before purchase/procurement of any assistive device to involve a licensed and approved specialist to take the measurements and do the standard screening.

Expected Outcome

• Quality and appropriate assistive devices to mitigate the specific injuries/impairments.
• Enhanced quality of life through mitigation by provision of appropriate assistive device.
• Enhanced quality inclusive education through reduction of barriers and provision of favourable learning environment for learners with various impairments.

Tasks to be performed

In collaboration with FCA Kakuma program, below services will be carried out during this activity:

1. Taking measurements of learners who need orthopaedic and optometry services
2. Screening process, assessment and individualized therapy depending on case-case intervention.

Screening Venue and Date

The activity will take place from 30th January 2023 to 4th February 2023 in the various schools where the learners are.

FCA Role:

1. FCA will organize transport for the service providers within the camp during the entire screening/assessment period.
2. FCA will organize air ticket facilitation the Optometrist and Orthopedic from their resident counties to Kakuma and back.
3. FCA will pay facilitation costs to the Optometrist and Orthopedic upon completion of the exercise and provision of outcome report.

Participants:

1. Optometrist
2. Orthopedic

Requirements and qualifications.

• A bachelor’s degree or any other related course in orthopaedics and/or optometry.
• At least 5 years of experience in a public hospital or recognized institution on the area of expertise.

Terms of Payment and Utility.

The FCA will pay facilitation costs to Optometrist, Orthopedic and Audiologist upon completion of the screening exercise and submission of reports to the program lead.