“Evaluation, Recommendations and Implementation Plan of Prosthetic and Orthotic Workshop in Sri Lanka”

Project overview

Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects in Sri Lanka (400 children are born with clubfoot every year in Sri Lanka, representing a rate of 1 per 800 births). If left untreated, clubfoot causes limitation of the child’s mobility by making it difficult and painful to walk. In order to address this issue, HI, in collaboration with Miraclefeet, is supporting government health facilities and its surrounding communities in Colombo, Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna district through its project titled “Towards universal access to clubfoot management in Sri Lanka: support to clubfoot clinics in Sri Lanka”. The overall objective of the project is to ensure that children born with clubfoot in Sri Lanka are treated successfully using the standard Ponseti Method.

Currently the project is supporting around 1579 patients for quality treatment and contributing to the country for reducing the burden related to clubfoot.

Introduction

Foot Abduction Braces (FAB) are critical components of quality care for children with clubfoot as they participate to preventing recurrence of the deformity. These braces are being produced in the Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) workshops of some governmental hospitals as well as in private or NGO-supported workshops. However, parents of children with clubfoot may face challenges with locally produced brace, which prevents them from using the braces as prescribed.

Also, production of FAB may be delayed by lack of materials and supplies at the public P&O workshops. People who can afford higher-quality braces can purchase them in private workshops. Those who cannot afford them have no other choice than to rely on the traditional FAB produced in government workshops.

Considering the importance of the brace in clubfoot management, the issues faced by P&O workshops in producing upgraded version of foot abduction braces and in maintaining an effective supply chain must be addressed.

In order to support the project and its partners in addressing these issues, the project plans on running an evaluation study of the current situation with regard to production and provision of FAB in Sri Lanka.

The main objectives of the activity are as follows:

· To identify if materials are available at P&O centres to answer the needs for quality services for clubfoot children.

· To analyse if the materials available at P&O centre / hospitals are meeting quality standards to produce foot abduction braces.

· To inform if the available human resources are adequate to provide the services, and assess their knowledge on brace production as well as the support they would require to improve their knowledge, skills and practices.

· To provide clear recommendations based on findings to improve the clubfoot services from P&O centre/hospitals in the future.

Role of the consultancy

• Provide an Evaluation/Assessment Plan with clear methodology, tools and timeline of the evaluation.
• Field visit to all for project hospital Prosthetic and orthotic workshops for conducting the evaluation (Colombo, Kandy, Batticaloa &Jaffna)
• Submission of final report not exceeding 25 pages outlining clearly the following:

a. Background

b. Objective

c. Methodology

d. Findings

e. Recommendations

f. Conclusions

· Additional information & all data related to evaluation should be put as Annex

Responsibilities of HI staff

· Support consultancy to ensure the objectives of the activity.

· Coordinate with Hospitals and facilitate for Field visits.

· Assist and support during field visit

Required experience and qualification

The ideal candidate/ Institution should have:

• Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 4 year experience in the field of Prosthetic and Orthotics with proven expertise on care for children with clubfoot (in particular production and provision of Foot Abduction Braces)

• Previous experience in comprehensive evaluation of P&O services and development of improvement plans will be added advantage.

• Experience in consulting for Non-Governmental Sector will be an advantage.

• Education background: Prosthesist/Orthosist (Bachelor degree – former ISPO Cat I P&O)

• Key competencies and skills: report writing skills, detail oriented, organizational skills, scientific understanding on problems

• Language requirement: English

Quotation

The quoted price should include cost of the above work mentioned under role