Musculoskeletal health care provider programme – in developing countries there is a lack of specialist healthcare providers for musculoskeltal conditions (MSC’s). In Kenya, for example there are 2 full time rheumatologists to serve a population of 41 million. The BJD has delivered a pilot project in Kenya to train mid-level providers in the detection, diagnosis and management of MSC’s. Following a successful pilot, a programme to extend this work in and beyond Kenya is in progress.
The work relates closely to the WHO Strategic Objective to address the underlying social and economic determinants of health through policies and programmes that enhance health equity (WHO Strategic Objective 7).
This project brings together a number of complementary approaches in an innovative sustainable training programme which enables the fundamental medical needs of patients with MSC’s to be met at the local level in communities across Kenya.