Are you or your organization interested in supporting physical health challenges?

Did you know that in rural communities, as many as 78% of people experience low back pain every week? With 74% of outpatient departments overwhelmed by patients seeking relief from physical ailments, the demand for accessible and effective solutions has never been greater. Meanwhile, 18% of households care for an elder with chronic physical limitations, placing immense strain on families. But that’s only part of the story.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of elders live in rural settings, limited healthcare access compounds the rising threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Conditions like hypertension, stroke, and diabetes are now responsible for 40% of deaths in the region. Beyond the staggering numbers, these NCDs rob individuals of their mobility, productivity, and dignity, creating ripples of hardship throughout entire families and communities.

This is where HiM steps in. With over a decade of hands-on experience living and working in rural Africa, we bring a deep understanding of the medical, social, and cultural challenges faced by these communities. Through years of research, community engagement, and refining materials and programs, we’ve built solutions that truly fit the unique needs of rural populations. Our programs aren’t just interventions—they’re a pathway to restored lives, dignity, and hope.

Training and Consulting Services

Health in Motion (HiM) offers a comprehensive suite of training and consulting services designed to address the diverse physical health and rehabilitation needs of individuals, communities, organizations, and corporations across Sub-Saharan Africa. Our flexible approach ensures that every program and consultation is customized to meet the unique goals, activities, and challenges of each partner.

Tailored Programs

HiM recognizes that each work environment is unique, whether it involves corporate teams, professional organizations, or manual labor-intensive industries. Our tailored programs are designed to address the specific physical demands of staff within these settings. Through an in-depth assessment, including an analysis of the work environment and employee activities, we create bespoke solutions to reduce injuries, enhance productivity, and foster healthier workplaces.

For corporate or professional organizations, this could include ergonomic strategies to optimize movement, prevent overuse injuries, and educate staff on maintaining physical health within their daily roles. By tailoring training programs to your unique environment, HiM ensures practical, impactful solutions that align with your organizational goals and priorities.

Community-Based Programs

HiM offers specified programs to community-based organizations that seek to implement the HiM model in their local setting. These programs empower community leaders and volunteers with structured training and support to create lasting impact at the grassroots level. Designed for long-term implementation, they go beyond one-time training to equip participants with tools, certification, and the necessary resources to independently lead community interventions. Each program includes detailed training manuals, visual aids, reporting forms, and other materials to ensure a fully supported, sustainable approach to implementing the HiM model.

Injury Prevention Program

Educates participants on the causes of overuse injuries and ergonomic strategies to prevent them. Volunteers undergo a structured nine-month process, during which they form participant groups and implement strategies in households. By the end of the program, volunteers are certified as “Movement Educators,” ensuring sustainability within the community.

Chronic Rehabilitation Program

Focuses on individuals affected by chronic injuries or degenerative limitations. A two-week intensive training equips staff and volunteers to assess physical functionality and create personalized home rehabilitation plans. Participants graduate as “Advanced Movement Educators,” ready to address long-term physical health challenges in their communities.

Cardiovascular Health Program

Promotes heart health by teaching participants about the anatomy and function of the heart, as well as knowledge of heart-related conditions. Movement-based solutions and heart health education are provided to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular illnesses, improving overall well-being

What is Offered

Every HiM program is rooted in a deep respect for local traditions and emphasizes sustainability. Here’s what you can expect:is

• Expertise in rural Sub-Saharan African cultures and social structures.
• Ergonomic and physical rehabilitation strategies tailored to unique organizational or community needs.
• Practical training solutions applicable to workplaces, households, and community settings.
• Sustainable, community-driven approaches that empower participants for long-term impact.
• Comprehensive training manuals and guides for facilitators and partners.

Get Started

For more information on our training programs or to discuss your organization’s specific needs, please email us for further discussion. HiM offers a free initial one-hour consultation over Zoom, which includes a follow-up plan tailored to your goals.

Testimonials

Leonard Banza

is an orthopaedic surgeon who has worked in the private, NGO and government sectors of Malawi for more than 20 years. He writes;
“I have noticed that 50 to 70% of patients presenting to our hospitals suffer from lower back pain. Unfortunately, this involved the younger and elderly populations. After a thorough analysis, we have realized that most of these lower back pains are mainly work-related daily activities with poor physical ergonomics. I did not know how to go about it because people have been working like this for many years. How could I change this as an individual? Talking individually to each client in the consultation room was not efficient enough. I was therefore frustrated.
As I was conducting an outreach clinic in Nkhata-bay, I was introduced to HiM and their work in the communities. It was so impressive and I was so excited because this is something we have been lacking in the country for years.

My wish is to see HiM expanding its work in the whole country and this will reduce the number of patients with lower back pain in our clinics, assist those in chronic situations and save resources (analgesics, X-rays, CT and MRI scan, off duty etc.) in our hospitals.”

Kondwani Msofi

is a physiotherapist at Mzuzu Central Hospital and also supports the M&E work for HiM the past 4yrs.
As he reflects on the impact of HiM, he comments;
“Health in Motion has acted as a key in addressing the knowledge and skills gap to the hard-to-reach areas here in Malawi. It is always difficult with my profession to reach out to the rural communities but HiM has made it possible. They have assisted to prevent physical injuries caused by the way rural dwellers do their daily activities. Targeting prevention by giving out knowledge and still in preventing physical injuries especially “injury to the lower back”, has helped the communities that have limited or no access to Malawi’s health services; especially rehabilitation.

As HIM expands to chronic rehabilitation to the elderly in the rural Malawi, I see it as a key to addressing the gap that exists in the palliative arm of health service provision in Malawi whose main focus is on medical palliation as well as providing the accessibility where they are not able to travel for such support.

I am happy with HiM’s programs and can be more encouraged if it expands its reach to all rural communities in the country. This will enhance development at large as the larger population will be active, and productive.”