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Since 1986, Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) has sent speech and language (SL) clinicians to the ENT department in Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. As this has not proved sustainable because of language problems (Uganda has over 40 local languages) and cultural issues, VSO Uganda and ENT decided in 2002 to set up the first East African Speech and Language Therapy Course together with Makerere University in Kampala. The training of Ugandans and other East Africans as SL clinicians will be much more sustainable and efficient as the trainees know the languages and the culture(s) of the clients and can counsel and treat accordingly.
Writing the curriculum and the modules, dealing with bureaucracy and fundraising, as well as running the pediatric and adult clinics are just some of the challenges we have had to face. With the help of Viataal (a Dutch organization) and Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, we are starting the course this month, in February 2006.
Twenty students each year will be trained in a Higher Diploma course. The two-year course will teach students the basics of anatomy, psychology, sociology, counseling, community-based rehabilitation, linguistics, general assessment, treatment methods, and several communication and feeding disorders. Modules include hearing impairment, language delay and disorders, neurological disorders, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, cleft-lip palate, tongue tie, disfluencies, and selective mutism.
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