After traveling through Tanzania and meeting with numerous healthcare workers, Danielle Butin, Instructor in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University, recognized that clinics were either receiving medical supplies that did not meet their needs, or received supplies that they did not know how to use.  As a result, she started the Afya Foundation of America, which secures and sorts through donations received from major hospitals and organizations of durable medical equipment; identifies clinics in Africa and the Caribbean that are in need; and delivers the necessary equipment. 

The Afya Foundation is partnering with Columbia’s Programs in Occupational Therapy to give students an opportunity to become involved.  The initial projects students will be working on include the preparation of manuals that promote the proper use of the equipment being donated; and repairing wheelchairs earmarked for shipment to these nations.  Faculty members Deb Tupe and Cheryl Colangelo are collaborating on these projects.

"Afya” is the Swahili word for good health.  As occupational therapy strives towards improving people’s functional abilities and enhancing quality of life, good health is a natural outcome.

To learn more about the work that Ms. Butin is doing, visit her website: http://www.afyafoundation.org