Country
Uganda is a beautiful country with outstanding natural scenery but a chequered political history since it achieved its independence from the United Kingdom and became the Republic of Uganda in 1962. The 236,580 sq. kms. landlocked area is mainly flat with mountains only at the east and west margins. Consequently it has a consistent tropical climate with temperatures reaching a high of 29 degrees Celsius (summer day) and a low of 16 degrees (winter night) tempered by the 1000m altitude.
The land varies from semi-desert in the northeast to the lush and fertile shores of Lake Victoria and River Victoria Nile which flows through the country and provides arable areas. The rainy seasons in the south are from April to May and October to November. In the north the wet season is from April to October and the dry from November to March. Humidity is low outside the wet seasons.
Despite the fluctuating political climate in the recent past and the nearness of civil war in neighbouring countries causing an overflow of refugees, the economy is expanding rapidly.
Agriculture accounts for 70% of the gross domestic product and employs 90% of the workforce. Coffee, sugar, cotton and tea are the main export crops; maize, millet, cassava, sweet potato, cereals, beans are locally consumed. Manufactured goods are textiles, soap, cement and steel products and in a thriving economy are set to expand. It has natural resources of copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone and salt.
Uganda's population of 23 million has a wide mix of tribes and languages although most can speak English, the official language. While 66% of the population are Christian the remaining practise animism or, a few, Islam.
There is a good system of sealed roads between large towns and bus services, post buses, minibuses and taxis run on a daily basis although conditions can vary and potholes are a regular feature to be aware of. Fuel is very expensive. The trains do not carry passengers at the present time, services having been suspended indefinitely.
Region
Kampala is a green and attractive capital city steadily being rebuilt following earlier civil disruption. It is built on seven hills with flowering summits, large houses and cooler air compared to the busy and bustling valleys where the sops, services, businesses, government offices and every day life takes place.
It has the usual range of shops, foreign exchange bureau, banks, airline offices, telephone, e mail and Internet facilities, and a noted nightlife of bars, clubs, discos and live music. The international airport is at Entebbe, 35kms from Kampala, and there are buses running from Kampala to Arusha (Tanzania) and Kisumu (Kenya) as well as local towns. Ferry services are also available on Lake Victoria.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To act as professional mentor to locally trained and qualified Occupational Therapists providing services in various locations throughout Uganda. The actual locations will be agreed and confirmed in conjunction with the Disability and Rehabilitation Section of the Ministry of Health. The caseload will involve a combination of in-depth support to selected OTs and broader-based support to the majority.
- To offer practical support in the development of OT services when requested.
- To provide informal one to one training in professional skills as requested by the OTs.
- To offer advice on aspects of management and administration.
- To advise OTs how to raise funds and resources for their work.
- To look into the options for continuing education for the Occupational Therapists through the Uganda Association for Occupational Therapists and other sources.
- To be an active member of Uganda Association for Occupational Therapists.
- To work with the Disability and Rehabilitation Section to integrate the work of OTs in individual clinical settings with the government service plan.
- To be actively involved in the planning and implementation of the Disability and Rehabilitation Section's work plan.
- In response to requests to advise Ugandan organisations (government and non-government) on the planning and implementation of OT services.
- To promote and develop links with government and non-government providers of rehabilitation services at national and district level in order to foster the growth of OT services in these settings.
- To investigate and set up links with officials of the Ministry of Gender, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education in order to promote the development of OT services within community services, prisons and special education.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified Occupational Therapists with a minimum of five years' post-qualification work experience, with an specialist knowledge in one or more of the following areas: mental health, neurology, paediatrics or Bobath
- Be confident of your own OT skills
- Experience of training (for example facilitating workshops), of planning and developing services and activities and of managing or supervising other people.
- Willing to support colleagues in networking and promoting OT services, be confident to take part in training and awareness sessions.
- Committed to the development of the OT profession. Must be willing to support colleagues in networking and promoting OT services, be confident to take part in training and awareness sessions.
- Flexible and adaptable in your approach
- Sensitive, patient and culturally aware. Must demonstrate the capacity to acclimatise to the local situation and local systems for doing things.
- Be able to work independently with minimal support
- Be willing to travel in Uganda by any means
- Must be willing to learn Kiswahili
Desirable
- Fundraising and proposal-writing skills
- Current driving licence
Placement Information
Accountability:
To the Head of the Disability and Rehabilitation Desk, Ministry of Health, Kampala on a day-to-day basis and the member of Action Health staff responsible for managing the Uganda Programme
Other Information
Trainers currently in these posts are Polly Hauxwell and Mary Ann Waddell.
Required in post March 2001 and May 2001
Click here to go to the Action Health application form
