NIHSS students on clinical placement at Manipal University |29 August 2012

Currently there are only two qualified Seychellois occupational therapists to supervise the entire class of 12 students during their clinical placement.

Occupational therapy is an emerging field with limited resources and clinical exposure here. This is why the partnership between the Manipal University and Ministry of Education through the NIHSS began.

In March 2012, the agreement detailing conditions of the exchange was formalised between the Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences and the NIHSS. This ultimately became an important milestone in developing knowledge and skills of occupational therapy students. The Ministry of Education had budgeted R400,000 for clinical placements, hence in June 2012 the students successfully travelled to the Manipal University in India for five weeks for their clinical placement.

The Manipal University offers integrated occupational therapy education and clinical placements under the supervision of competent clinical supervisors. It also offers unique learning experiences and a great opportunity to interact with occupational therapy students worldwide.

Placement was scheduled for five weeks in various settings namely orthopaedics, neurosciences, paediatrics (child habilitation clinic), mental health (acute and chronic) from June 26 to July 28, 2012.

The main objectives of the placement were:
• Practice knowledge,
• Clinical reasoning,
• Facilitating change throughout the process,
• Communication,
• Performance management.

Students adapted to the environment and interacted with other Seychellois students studying medicine and various other courses at the Manipal University.

According to the students, it was a wonderful experience, where they observed various occupational therapy techniques, instruments, approaches used. They also had a chance to interact with other foreign students.

The students and management of the NIHSS would like to thank the Ministry of Education for providing them with the wonderful opportunity to promote the emerging field of occupational therapy in Seychelles.

 
Happy occupational therapy students of the NIHSS receiving certificates