Improving public health through the development of local scientific capacity and training in rehabilitation in LMICs: A proof-of-concept of collaborative efforts in Parakou, Benin

Rehabilitation services: A key player in the public healthThe increase in life expectancy is linked, among other factors such as genetic factors, environmental factors, factors of medical conditions, socio-demographic factors, self-management, and access to care, to an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (1), which puts huge pressure on the health care systems.Cardiovascular diseases are, by far, the most common NCD in low-to middle-income countries (LMICs) (2); among these diseases, stroke is the most frequent (3).To face the huge public health challenge of NCDs and to lower their associated burden for patients and their families and caregivers, rehabilitation services are an essential part of management of these diseases (4).Rehabilitation is a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment.Rehabilitation can be provided in many different settings, from the conventional inpatient or outpatient hospital setting to private clinics or in community settings, such as an individual's home.The rehabilitation workforce is made up of different health workers, including but not limited to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech/language therapists, audiologists, orthotists, and prosthetists, clinical psychologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, and rehabilitation nurses (5).Evidence-based practice (EBP) in rehabilitation has been defined by Novak et al. as "the cornerstone of care to maximize client outcomes through the application of best available interventions" (6).