Join us on Tuesday, June 2, at 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) on the webinar "Rehabilitation Equipment for the First Level of Care". This webinar, organized in collaboration with Ontario Tech University and Emory University, will promote knowledge exchange and practical guidance on the selection, use, and management of essential rehabilitation equipment at the first level of health care in the Region of the Americas.
Objectives of the webinar
- To launch the factsheet: Rehabilitation Equipment at the First Level of Care, aiming at supporting the integration of rehabilitation into primary health care.
- To share methodologies and tools for assessing and prioritizing rehabilitation equipment needs.
- To showcase examples from WHO Collaborating Centers and countries of equipment implementation at the community or primary care level.
- To discuss opportunities for technical cooperation and capacity-building among PAHO, Member States, and academic institutions.
How to participate
- DATE: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- TIME: 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) [Check at the end of the page the time in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: English and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation in those languages.
- REGISTER: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TJZ1I_ZaSa2RwYo6Fj-DBQ#/registration
Agenda
11:00 a.m. Welcome remarks, Silvana Luciani. Unit Chief, Non-communicable diseases, violence, and Injury prevention, PAHO
11:05 a.m. The added value of Rehabilitation at the first level of care, Gustavo Perez Reina, PAHO Regional Advisor, Disabilities and Rehabilitation, PAHO
11:15 a.m. Panel discussion about rehabilitation equipment and rehabilitation at the first level of care
- Ontario Tech University iDRR
- Emory University
- Consuelo Alzamora, World Federation of Occupational Therapy
- Dra. Marcela Guzmán INR, Chile
- Dra Ligia Gallardo. ISRI, El Salvador
- Dr. Federico Montero, Costa Rica
- Yasmín García, PAHO International Consultant
11:55 a.m. Q&A
12:10 p.m. Closing remarks, Gustavo Perez Reina, PAHO Regional Advisor, Disabilities and Rehabilitation, PAHO
Context
Access to basic and appropriate rehabilitation equipment is essential for providing quality rehabilitation services at the first level of care. In many countries in the Americas, primary health care facilities lack the equipment necessary to assess, treat, and follow up people with functional limitations and disabilities. This gap contributes to unmet rehabilitation needs, delays in recovery, and inequities in access.
Strengthening capacity at the first level of care is in line with the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 Call for Action and PAHO’s Strategy and Action Plan on Disability and Rehabilitation. The use of evidence-based selection tools, standards, and models developed by WHO Collaborating Centers can support countries in identifying, prioritizing, and procuring appropriate equipment adapted to their service context.
Time in other cities
- 8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito,
- 11:00 a.m. - Havana, Port-au-Prince, Nassau, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, La Paz, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Santiago.
- 12:00 p.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 5:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, check the local times in the following link.