Fig. 1 GPA s World PT Day Poster

Transcription

1 REPORT ON GHANA PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION S CELEBRATION OF WORLD PHYSIOTHERAPY DAY, 2017 Physiotherapists the world over joined hearts and minds to commemorate the annual World Physical Therapy Day on Friday 8 th September, The theme for this year s celebration is Physical Activity for Life emphasising the fact that all healthy adults need to be physically active. A much need message in our times due to the damning statistic that globally, 26% of adults aged eighteen and above are just not active enough. The Ghana Physiotherapy Association, a member association of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy took to many interesting activities, initiatives and drives to adequately celebrate the day in Ghana, West Africa. Physiotherapist all over the country organized several programs and events ranging from presentations and radio talk-shows on physical activity, health walks and fitness exercises, free screening and physiotherapy consultation sessions as well as volunteering drives to commemorate the celebration as well as further raise awareness about the noble profession of Physiotherapy. Fig. 1 GPA s World PT Day Poster Starting off in the capital Accra, Physiotherapists with the nation s largest teaching Hospital, the Korle-bu teaching hospital (KBTH), organized presentations for staff and clinicians at the various departments and centers of the hospital on Physical Activity, its importance and how to effectively measure it. The department also organized a quiz competition on physical

2 activity for its patients and non-clinical staff to further sensitize them on the importance of increasing their physical activity levels. The Greater Accra regional chapter then embarked on a fun filled health hike up the beautiful green scenery of the Aburi hills on Friday, 8 th September. Clinicians and Staff of the KBTH Burn s unit paying rapt attention to a presentation on Physical activity. Accra Gt. Accra region The celebration was not isolated to only physiotherapists working in the public sector. Physiotherapists in the private sector were also up to their game, commemorating World Physiotherapy Day in their own special way. The Accra Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic had an awareness drive on Physical activity for business in the urban suburb of Abelenkpe and its

3 surrounding areas. Physical activity for life fliers and posters were distributed to employees and patrons of these businesses while scheduling free appointments for postural evaluation and exercise prescription at the clinic. The clinic also had a six minute walk competition amongst its patients and staff with winners in each category getting awards. The day was rounded up interestingly with a pizza fest and hearty smiles for all. Fig. 2 Up the Aburi Hills The Rima theratouch clinic, another privately owned top-notch rehab centre in Asylum down was not to be outdone either. Their celebration of World Physiotherapy Day began with free offers of therapeutic massages to all patrons who walked in. This initiative was able to attract thirty new clients who were eager to listen to the day s message of physical activity for life. The Director of the clinic, Mrs. Pamela Sackeyfio was on Starr FM, one of the capital s upbeat local radio station to talk about Physical activity for life. At the Nyaho Clinic, the Physiotherapy department also hosted a symposium on proper posture and physical activity for all clinicians and staff.

4 Rima Theratouch Health and Fitness walk. Accra Gt. Accra region Therapists all over the country had interesting activities up their sleeve to further commemorate the day. In the Western region, members of the Physiotherapy department in the Effie-Nkwanta regional hospital organized a free screening and aerobic exercise session for all stall of the hospital. The story was no different in the Central region where the Physiotherapy department in Dunkwa Municipal Hospital held talks at the hospital s outpatient department and its antenatal clinic on physical activity for life. Physical activity for life posters were disseminated in all wards of the hospital. Other physiotherapists in the region embarked on a spree of appearances on several local radio talk shows to spread the message of the importance of physical activity. In the Ashanti region, members of Ghana Physiotherapy Association were on Ultimate fm, to further conscientize the general public on the importance of physical activity.

5 At the orthopaedic training centre in Nsawam in the Eastern region, the day was marked with a health talk, aerobic exercises for both patients and staff and a visit to a local beverage manufacturing company, Blue skies ltd. Further south, in the Volta region, the physiotherapy department of the Volta regional hospital embarked on a unit by unit dissemination of Physical activity for life fliers and posters after which the day s celebration was capped with a lunch buffet. On Ultimate Fm to speak on Physical Activity. Kumasi Ashanti region. To cap the celebration of World Physiotherapy day, the Ghana Physiotherapy Association volunteered with the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry, on its annual health fair at the Independence Avenue in the nation s capital to reach out to the general populace and

6 individuals with various disabilities. This initiative was aimed at increasing awareness of the Ghanaian populace about Physiotherapy and also to serve as a one of the association s corporate social responsibility to give back to the community in which we serve. GPA Outreach Volunteer team All over the country, it was a pleasant mix of joy, service and laughter as physiotherapists took a small break from their daily routines to celebrate World Physiotherapy Day, drumming home the essential correlation between increasing physical activity of a nation s citizens and its concomitant improvement in national public health.

7 Presentation and Demonstration at Nyaho Clinic

8 Health talk at Dunkwa Municipal Hospital Antenatal clinic on Physical activity and the pregnant woman

9 Aerobic exercise session of patients at the Orthopaedic Training Centre, Nsawam, Eastern region.

10 Free Physiotherapy consults for staff and clinicians of the Effie-Nlwanta Regional Hospital, Takoradi - Western region. Report prepared by: Alberta Rockson/ Kwame Panyin Essuman Photo Credits: Ghana Physiotherapy Association.