Supporting professional development of the physiotherapy community in Sierra Leone

Physiopedia Plus (Plus) is creating pathways for professional development in some of the world’s most challenging healthcare environments. In Sierra Leone, where the physiotherapy profession is emerging and resources remain limited, World Hope International is using creative engagement strategies to ensure newly qualified practitioners can access continuing education and build clinical confidence using the Plus platform.

When Celine De-Silva took on the role of internship coordinator for physiotherapy graduates in Sierra Leone, she faced a familiar challenge. Thirty newly qualified practitioners needed ongoing clinical education, but the infrastructure to support traditional continuing professional development barely existed. These graduates needed practical, accessible learning they could engage with on their mobile phones at busy clinical sites.

With support from World Hope, the newly formed Sierra Leone Physiotherapy Association secured access to Physiopedia Plus for all their members. This partnership provided the technical solution, but Celine understood that access alone wouldn’t guarantee engagement. She needed to create systems that would motivate busy practitioners to prioritise professional development amidst demanding clinical schedules.

Getting the interns comfortable with the platform and helping them navigate the resources has been essential. We’ve had to be creative about encouraging regular engagement whilst supporting them through the technical challenges they face accessing content on their phones. – Celine De-Silva

Celine developed an approach combining structure with incentive. She assigned core courses relevant to clinical contexts, establishing clear deadlines that created accountability. Using the Plus dashboard to monitor engagement, she implemented a monthly reward system offering mobile data credit to the three most active learners. In a country where internet connectivity represents a significant expense for young professionals, this recognition became genuinely meaningful. Approximately one third of interns now engage actively with the platform, using resources to inform their daily practice.

This approach offers valuable lessons for organisations worldwide. Whether in established or emerging healthcare systems, practitioners face competing demands that can undermine professional development. Celine’s strategy demonstrates universal principles applicable in any context. Monitor engagement through available data. Create meaningful incentives aligned with learners’ realities. Establish clear expectations balanced with flexibility. Recognise achievement publicly. These strategies work because they address fundamental human motivation rather than context specific challenges.

The platform gives our interns access to current evidence and clinical techniques that would otherwise be completely out of reach. It’s helping them build confidence in their clinical decision making and feel connected to the global physiotherapy community. – Celine De-Silva

For developing health systems, platforms like Physiopedia Plus provide critical infrastructure that would take decades and substantial resources to build independently. Sierra Leone has one university programme offering a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy and the professional association continues developing its structures with support from World Physiotherapy. In this environment, access to standardised, evidence based continuing education helps establish consistent clinical standards whilst the profession itself matures. World Hope International’s funding of internship positions prevents newly qualified physiotherapists from facing indefinite unemployment, creating an ecosystem where early career practitioners develop competence whilst contributing to healthcare delivery in communities with significant rehabilitation needs.

This partnership demonstrates how strategic collaborations can accelerate professional development in emerging systems without requiring massive infrastructure investment. The combination of  platform access through Physiopedia’s commitment to equitable access, employment support through World Hope, and innovative engagement strategies through local leadership creates sustainable pathways for practitioner development that strengthen entire healthcare systems.

For universities, clinics, hospitals and professional associations worldwide, these partnerships demonstrate tangible impact regardless of context. Whether supporting established programmes or emerging professional communities, Physiopedia Plus offers flexible solutions that organisations can adapt to their unique challenges. Celine’s experience proves that creative implementation strategies matter as much as the resources themselves, offering a blueprint that transcends geographic and economic boundaries.

To learn more about how your organisation can partner with Physiopedia Plus to support practitioner development and strengthen rehabilitation education in your region, visit our partnership information page or contact us to discuss solutions tailored to your organisational needs.