The Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association Ltd. (AOPA) is the national peak professional body regulating the orthotic/prosthetic profession in Australia.
AOPA’s ‘Remotely Connected, Virtually Together’ Congress showcased the best of the best in #OandP, with keynote speaker Chapal Khasnabis.
Chapal Khasnabis is an orthotist/prosthetist and leads the World Health Organisation's global assistive technology initiative, Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE). This initiative aims to improve global access to assistive health technology for people with disabilities, older people, and all in need of assistive products and services.
Before joining the World Health Organization, Chapal spearheaded numerous national and international level orthotics and prosthetics programmes including the foundation of Mobility India, providing rehabilitation services and human resources development in assistive technology and allied health services, specifically for people in and Asia and Africa.
Giving his keynote address ‘Provision of Assistive Technology in the New Normal’ at #AOPAtogether. Chapal provided insights to the rapid introduction of telehealth for the delivery of assistive technology and the opportunity it presents to increase global access.
Also mentioned, were some of the significant milestones that have occurred in the AT field in recent years, particularly in Geneva.
On 26th May 2018 at the 71st World Health Assembly, the seventh plenary meeting of WHO member states, passed the resolution to improve access to assistive technology https://bit.ly/3jMRzG6 , which is now acknowledged and widely lauded to be the most important step in AT development for a generation. Tireless work from Chapal Khasnabis and the GATE team supported the efforts of member states to see this dream become a reality.
'First there was GATE… and now we have GAATO’.
Chapal Khasnabis, WHO GATE
In a similar vein it was most encouraging to hear it reflected that,
‘first there was GATE… and now we have GAATO’, as the 2020 creation of the Global Alliance for Assistive Technology Organizations was welcomed to be another key step to achieving impactful global progress on AT.
For further information on AOPA please find the link here, and for further information about GAATO founder and affiliated association ARATA please click here.