Experiences establishing a new speech-language pathology training program in Ethiopia, a resource-limited setting: Lessons learned.

PURPOSE: Ethiopia is the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. While Ethiopia's health care system includes primary health centres, general, and specialised hospitals, allied health care like speech-language pathology was not available until 2003. This article was written with the aim of sharing the experience of establishing speech-language pathology as a profession and the first speech-language pathology training program in Ethiopia. METHOD: In this paper, we retrospectively examine how the leadership of local stakeholders, a multidisciplinary team, and the development of a professional infrastructure led to the success of the program. The authorship group, who were involved in the program from inception to implementation, share their experiences. RESULT: The speech-language pathology undergraduate program at Addis Ababa University graduated its first class in 2019. Plans to grow the training program at the graduate level are ongoing. CONCLUSION: This novel program, grown from several international partnerships, is an example of how low- and middle-income countries can improve access to the service providers necessary to treat their populations.

[Pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury]. / Trykksår etter ryggmargsskade.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are a serious and frequently occurring complication in patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury. The purpose of the article is to consider the causes of pressure ulcers and how to prevent them. METHOD: The article is based on a non-systematic search in the PubMed database and own clinical experience. RESULTS: 30-40 % of patients with spinal cord injuries develop pressure ulcers during the acute and rehabilitation phases, most frequently over bony prominences such as the sacrum, tuber ischii, heel, malleolus and trochanter. Risk factors are reduced activity/immobility, lack of sensibility, moisture due to urinary or faecal incontinence, muscular atrophy, prolonged time since injury, depression, smoking and poor nutrition. The most important preventive measures are pressure relief, regular change of position and frequent observation of the skin over bony prominences. INTERPRETATION: In most cases, patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries can be prevented from developing pressure ulcers. Prevention saves patients from long-term hospitalisation and the healthcare system from high costs.