Physiotherapy outreach in Samoa

I'm excited to join a team of therapists heading to Samoa for a week of therapy in September 2025. This trip is a collaboration between Altus Pacific Aid and the Loto Taumafai Society for People with Disabilities, an NGO based in Samoa.

The primary goal of the trip is to provide support to as many children with cerebral palsy as possible. Loto Taumafai currently has around 100 children on their records who have never received therapy input, and we aim to reach as many of them as we can. Given the scale of the work, our approach will be focused—we will identify two to three key interventions for each child and their family that can make a meaningful difference.

Focus Areas

Our interventions will be tailored to each child’s needs, covering aspects such as:

Feeding positioning, including puree preparation

Off-floor positioning to enhance engagement with surroundings

Play and communication strategies

Progression toward independent sitting, standing, walking, and transitions

Wheelchair measurements where necessary

There is limited funding available to support the costs associated with therapists joining this trip.