World Physical Therapy Day: Pakistan joins global ‘fight against disabilities’

Walk held to create awareness about physiotherapy and its importance.


Express September 09, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


To mark the World Physical Therapy Day for the first time ever in Pakistan, a walk was organised at the Constitution Avenue on Thursday. The walk aimed to create awareness about physical therapy and was organised by Pakistan Physical Therapy Association (Pak-PTA) in collaboration with Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences.


Physical therapists and a large number of children with various types of physical disabilities from across the nation participated in the walk, which commenced from Kulsoom Plaza and culminated on China Chowk.

Students, accompanied by their teachers and relatives, held placards and banners emphasising the need to promote the physiotherapy profession. As in the three previous years, the theme for the day in 2011 is “Movement for Health”.

On the occasion, physiotherapists pledged to continue their “fight against disabilities” and to offer services for the betterment of such people. The day was dedicated to “the brothers and sisters” with physical disabilities.

Physical therapy is a health care profession concerned with identifying and improving quality of life and movement potential of individuals usually through rehabilitation.

Physiotherapists play a significant role in diagnosing and treating people that suffer from various forms of joints/muscular aches and pains, injuries, heart and lung diseases and physical or mental disabilities, including disabilities by birth.

Pak-PTA President Dr Syed Imtiaz told The Express Tribune that physiotherapy is well acknowledged throughout the world; however, unfortunately very few people are aware of the profession in Pakistan.

There are currently 2,500 to 3,000 physical therapists in the country to cater to a population of 170 million, “which is very insufficient,” said Imtiaz.

He said that Pakistan is blessed with highly-qualified therapists, however, majority of them are unemployed.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the largest public hospital in Islamabad, employs only four physical therapists, said Imtiaz, adding there are only three institutes across the country – in Karachi, Lahore and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) – that offer courses in physiotherapy.

He expressed concern over the absence of physical therapist in rural areas.

“We have requested the President and the Prime Minister to depute a minimum of five physical therapists in hospitals on district level and two on tehsil level,” said Imtiaz.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2011.

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