About us
The Tanzania Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists (TATCOT)was founded in Moshi with the material, financial and human resource support of the governments of Tanzania and the Federal Republic of Germany in June 1981. TATCOT is a supra-regional training centre providing courses in the field of orthopaedic technology in Africa and enrols students from all English speaking African countries as well as other interested countries. The reason for establishing these courses was to educate the professionals who are required to provide technical services to people with amputations and other neuromuscular disorders such as poliomyelitis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, clubfoot and trauma. In order to do this the professionals are provided with the knowledge and skills to provide prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs and supportive seating to people with disabilities.
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
TATCOT is organised under the Directorate of Human Resource Development of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam. It is situated in Moshi on the premises of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), which is an institution of the Good Samaritan Foundation of the Evangelic Lutheran Church of Tanzania.
University of Dar es Salaam
In 1986 the Muhimbili College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) of the University of Dar es Salaam accredited the Diploma Course in Orthopaedic Technology and supervises its academic conduct.
Tumaini University
In 1999 TATCOT took the initiative to introduce a BSc Degree Course in Prosthetics and Orthotics and was then incorporated as the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine in Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCM-College) which is one of the constituent colleges of Tumaini University.
Values
TATCOT is committed to the following values:
- Respect for all disabled people
- Needs and wellbeing of disabled people
- Academic and professional excellence of its graduates
- Delivery of high quality prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchair and supportive seating services
- Development of the design of technical orthopaedic devices and components
- Correct prescription of appropriate orthopaedic devices
- Development of the clinic team approach in the rehabilitation of disabled people
- Respect and trust between all staff involved in technical orthopaedics
- Consciousness of cost and the efficient use of resources
Vision
TATCOT is established to provide the means for the optimal physical rehabilitation of disabled people and the improvement in their overall wellbeing.
Mission
TATCOT is devoted to improving the function, ability and wellbeing of physically disabled people through the relentless pursuit of research, education and training in appropriate orthopaedic technology and the development of the prosthetics, orthotics and wheelchairs services.
Strategy
The strategies of TATCOT are as follows:
- Improvement of sustainable high quality education and training in prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs and supportive seating
- Development of design and production methods of appropriate orthopaedic devices
- Pursuit of research in all aspects of prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs and supportive seating
- Continuing professional development of all members of staff
- Continuing professional development of all graduates of TATCOT
- Participating in and advising on the improvement and development of technical orthopaedic services
Milestones
- January 1981: Training of the Tanzanians who were to become the future teachers of TATCOT commenced.
- February 1981: An agreement was signed between the Government of Germany and the Government of Tanzania for the establishment of TATCOT in KCMC, Moshi.
- August 1981: Arrival of first two GTZ experts from Germany (Sepp Heim and Wilfried Raab).
- October 1981: First intake of 14 students from 7 different countries. Training began using the facilities of the existing Orthopaedic Workshop in KCMC.
- November 1981: Construction of the first TATCOT building began adjacent and connected to the Orthopaedic Workshop.
- June 1982: The ground floor of the building was completed and TATCOT moved into it.
- October 1982: Intake of second class of 11 students from 6 different countries including Pakistan.
- January 1983: TATCOT hosted an international seminar on Indications, techniques and prosthetic fitting of knee disarticulation amputees.
- June 1983: The upper floor of the building was completed and TATCOT moved fully into it.
- July 1983: Official Opening of the building by The Honourable Dr AD Chiduo, Minister of Health.
- May 1984: TATCOT hosted the ISPO workshop on Prosthetics and orthotics technology in developing countries with respect to education, training and clinical services.
- June 1984: First group of 13 students completed their three-year training course with accreditation by the Ministry of Health.
- January 1985: ISPO recognised TATCOT for Training Diploma Level Orthopaedic Technologists (ISPO Category-II)
- July 1985: Construction of students' hostel and staff houses.
- November 1985: Seminar in Tanga on TATCOT establishment and future plans.
- June 1986: the Muhimbili College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) of the University of Dar es Salaam accredited the Diploma Course in Orthopaedic Technology and supervises its conduct.
- February 1988: Establishment of TATCOT Advisory Committee comprising representatives MoH, GTZ, DSE (now InWEnt), BC, Muhimbili Medical Centre, WHO, KCMC and TATCOT.
- July 1988: TATCOT hosted regional seminar on Rehabilitation and training of lower cadres.
- July 1989: The first group of 14 students graduated with Diploma in Orthopaedic Technology of the University of Dar es Salaam.
- December 1990: Completion of local component production unit.
- July 1991: TATCOT exhibits at the International Trade Fair in Dar es Salaam.
- November 1991: TATCOT conducts a review of the curriculum of the Diploma in Orthopaedic Technology.
- December 1991: Follow-up study of TATCOT graduates
- April 1992: TATCOT hosted GTZ regional seminar on Orthotic management of poliomyelitis.
- April 1993: TATCOT hosted ISPO course on Lower limb amputation and related prosthetics.
- October 1993: Certificate course in Lower Limb Orthotics Technology (LLOT) is inaugurated.
- July 1994: ISPO recognised TATCOT for training Certificate Level Lower Limb Orthotics Technologists (ISPO Category-II LLO).
- October 1994: Certificate course in Lower Limb Prosthetics Technology (LLPT) is inaugurated.
- November 1994: TATCOT hosted a regional seminar for graduates on Appropriate technology in spinal orthotics.
- July 1995: ISPO recognised TATCOT for training Certificate Level Lower Limb Prosthetics Technologists (ISPO Category-II LLP).
- August 1997: TATCOT hosted a course on Skills in clinical teaching for TATCOT academic staff and clinical field supervisors.
- September 1999: TATCOT hosted a DSE supported seminar on Teaching methodology for TATCOT academic staff and clinical field supervisors
- October 1999: BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics is inaugurated by Tumaini University.
- August 2000: TATCOT hosted a USAID/WHO sponsored regional seminar on the Management of poliomyelitis.
- August 2000: Follow-up of graduates and promotion of TATCOT programme in Mozambique and Angola.
- September 2000: TATCOT hosted ISPO consensus conference on Appropriate orthopaedic technology for low-income countries.
- October 2000: The world's first Certificate Course in Wheelchair Technology is inaugurated in TATCOT in partnership with Motivation UK.
- November 2002: His Excellency President Benjamin Mkapa opened the new Mawenzi Wing of TATCOT which houses the Wheelchair Technology course and the BSc course.
- November 2002: First graduation from the BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics.
- September 2003: Review of the curriculum of the Certificate Course in Wheelchair Technology by TATCOT and Motivation at the Centre for Educational Development in Health, Arusha.
- April 2004: TATCOT was designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation.
- July 2004: The Principal of TATCOT, Mr Harold G Shangali, was elected President of ISPO, its first President from a developing country.
- September 2004: TATCOT hosted ISPO instructional course on The management of cerebral palsy.
- February 2005: ISPO recognised TATCOT for training Certificate Level Wheelchair Technologists (ISPO Category-II).
- June 2005: TATCOT staff seminar on Staff regulations and responsibilities organised by TATCOT and supported by Ministry of Health.
- January 2006: Upgrading and extension of the local production unit workshop to house the degree course workshops.
- February 2006: TATCOT hosts ISPO instruction course for teachers on Upper limb prosthetics.
- March 2006: ISPO recognises TATCOT for training Degree Level Prosthetists/Orthotists (ISPO Category-I).
- March 2006: TATCOT hosted ISPO regional course Basic educators: instructional design and delivery.
- November 2006: Completion of extension to Meru Wing housing the Gait Laboratory and eLearning facilities.
- September 2007: All Africa Wheelchair Congress hosted by TATCOT.
- October 2007: eLearning course in Spinal Orthotics established.
- November 2007: Celebration of 25th Anniversary of TATCOT
Graduate Statistics
As at November 2009, TATCOT has graduated a total of 507 students since it was founded of whom 455 were male and 52 were female. Below details of the graduates by country and course can be found:
|
|
BSc |
DOT
|
LLOT
|
LLPT
|
WTTC |
SOBL |
Total
|
|
AFRICA
|
|||||||
|
Angola
|
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
Botswana
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
4 |
|
Burundi
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Cameroon |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Congo DRC |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Eritrea |
|
3 |
6 |
1 |
|
|
10 |
|
Ethiopia |
2 |
18 |
|
1 |
4 |
5 |
30 |
|
Gambia
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Guinea
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Ivory
Coast |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Kenya
|
3 |
23 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
43 |
|
Lesotho
|
|
11 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
14 |
|
Liberia
|
|
6 |
2 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Madagascar
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
Malawi
|
|
16 |
|
|
6 |
1 |
23 |
|
Mozambique
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
Namibia
|
2 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
18 |
|
Nigeria
|
1 |
8 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
11 |
|
Rwanda
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
2 |
7 |
|
Seychelles
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Sierra
Leone |
|
8 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
14 |
|
South
Africa |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
Somalia
|
|
5 |
3 |
14 |
|
|
22 |
|
Sudan
|
|
7 |
7 |
23 |
|
|
37 |
|
Swaziland
|
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
|
Tanzania
|
13 |
70 |
9 |
4 |
19 |
6 |
121 |
|
Togo
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
Uganda
|
1 |
19 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
29 |
|
Zambia
|
1 |
17 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
25 |
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
32 |
|
|
7 |
|
39 |
|
Other
Countries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Afghanistan |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Cambodia
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
El
Salvador |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
Germany
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Pakistan
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Sri
Lanka |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Vietnam
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
TOTAL
|
36 |
281 |
45 |
57 |
58 |
30 |
507 |
