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World Confederation for Physical Therapy
496
World Confederation for Physical Therapy The following items have been extracted from the May 1994 issue of the WCPT Newsletter which is published twice-yearly. Further extracts will be published in future issues of Physiotherapy. Copies of the complete newsletter are available at €10 Per year from WCPT, 16/19 Eastcastle Street, London W1N 7PA.
First WCPT Africa Congress The president of WCPT delivered a keynote address on physiotherapy education, at the African Regional Congress of WCPT Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya (April 12-14, 1994). Professor A J Fernando identified the primary function of education as being the creation of wisdom. He suggested that though the provision of knowledge may be acceptable, the mere transmission of information should not be tolerated as education. Universities and other institutions of higher learning are veritable cafeterias of disparate values and it is to the professional faculties that the burden of clearly identifying the purpose and characteristic of the end product belongs, he argued. Physiotherapy education should aim to produce a humane, skilled, caring therapist who is socio-culturally sensitive, economically aware, understanding of patients’ rights and clear about informed consent, sexual harassment issues and conflict of interest, he elaborated. Turning to what Professor Fernando called the two pillars of physiotherapy education, the curriculum and clinical
education, he suggested that today’s curricula are information over-loaded, trivia infested and over-ripe with mere facts. Curricula need drastic pruning. He reminded the audience that today’s curriculum is and should be designed to produce tomorrow‘s graduate. He identified three characteristics as essential in any worth-while curriculum for tomorrow. It must be patient and not therapist centred, social not pathology driven and scientific evidence not tradition based. In commenting on clinical education, he emphasised the need for student placements to be broadened from the hospital based tradition. Placements and internships must be extended beyond the rural centres to social agencies and consumer advocacy groups, so students develop a better understanding of ‘seamless care’, he added. He noted the need for the academic programme and the clinical education programme not only to be inter-related but resonant with each other. Turning his attention to graduates, Professor Fernando cautioned new
WCPT-South American Region is Born Since 1991, it had not been possible to form a South American Region, but in Bogota in February of this year the new Re ion was born. ?he meeting, encouraged by the WCPT Executive and facilitated by the Associacion Colombiana de Fisioterapia, was attended by representatives of all WCPT South American member organisations, except that the representative from Brazil could not attend at the last moment due to ill health. The WCPT president and secretary-general also attended. The meeting proved to be an excellent forum for the exchange of information on physical therapy in the countries represented, helped by debate being in Spanish. An excellent interpreter translated to and from English. Some members were concerned about other physical therapy
Asociacio n Colombiana de Fisioterapia The Association is 40 years old. There are 1,500 members out of 3,500 physical therapists in Colombia, 60% of whom are female. There are 11 physical therapy schools but no central curriculum control at present which is a major concern of the Association. The population of more than 34 million live in rural areas where there are only 700 physical therapists, the rest work in the cities.
Physiotherapy, July 1994, vol80, no 7
associations in South America which were not WCPT members but were members of the Confederacion Latino American0 de Fisioterapia y Kinesiologia (CIAFK) but this was alleviated when it was clear that there was no need for the two organisations to amalgamate. The resolution among those present was then to initiate a WCPT-South American Region and elections resulted in the following: Chairman Maria Cristina de Gomez, Colombia Secretary/treasurer Alexis Selios, Uruguay Vice-chairman Janet Romero, Venezuela WCPT regional member Pedro Mancilla, Chile There is to be a first meeting of the region in October in Chile, where a set of regional rules and other matters will be finalised. Physical therapy concerns in South America are very similar to those in Africa - endeavour to raise and maintain the educational level and then to retain the new graduates in the continent, rather than see their flight to the USA, where they are welcomed despite the need for English language competence. The Asociacion Colombiana de Fisioterapia hosted a very pleasant and relaxing meeting, engendering good co-operation and an excellent outcome.
therapists to evaluate carefully the current romance with technology. Since the stethoscope separated the physician’s ear from the patient’s chest, the gap has progressively increased, he said. We are therapists whose skilled hands have been directed by educated and disciplined minds and that has secured our place in the health care labour spectrum. Research should provide the answers that governments seek, regarding cost effectiveness of our interventions. The presentation was followed by an open forum facilitated by the president.
Attendance Range It must have taken a great deal of organisation to mount the general meeting and congress in such a short time. The events were well attended with participants from 12 African countries and guests from the UK, Netherlands, Norway, USA, Australia and Oman. The debate at the general meeting was lively and constructive with a great deal of exchange about conditions of service in the various countries, how physical therapy education can be enhanced from diploma to degree level in some countries; how new graduates can be persuaded to stay in Africa, instead of being taken by recruiters to the USA; and the role of community based rehabilitation in rural areas. The election results are as follows:
Chairman - D Madzivire, Zimbabwe Vice-chairman E Sablarolles, Zambia Secretary - M Brand, Zimbabwe Treasurer - J Beenhakker, S Africa
-
Of crucial debate was the financing of the region. Acknowledgment and thanks were given to the generosity of WCPTEurope which had helped financially with various regional activities and particularly with the congress planning and help towards participants’ travel costs. The congress sessions were well attended and the discussion periods of particular interest - on the subjects of education, CBR, acupuncture, manual therapy, etc. Pre- and post-congress courses were also much appreciated although a couple had to be cancelled due to lack of support, much to the disappointment of the organisers.
World Confederation for Physical Therapy The following items have been extracted from the May 1994 issue of the WCPT Newsletter which is published twice-yearly. Further extracts will be published in future issues of Physiotherapy. Copies of the complete newsletter are available at €10 Per year from WCPT, 16/19 Eastcastle Street, London W1N 7PA.
First WCPT Africa Congress The president of WCPT delivered a keynote address on physiotherapy education, at the African Regional Congress of WCPT Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya (April 12-14, 1994). Professor A J Fernando identified the primary function of education as being the creation of wisdom. He suggested that though the provision of knowledge may be acceptable, the mere transmission of information should not be tolerated as education. Universities and other institutions of higher learning are veritable cafeterias of disparate values and it is to the professional faculties that the burden of clearly identifying the purpose and characteristic of the end product belongs, he argued. Physiotherapy education should aim to produce a humane, skilled, caring therapist who is socio-culturally sensitive, economically aware, understanding of patients’ rights and clear about informed consent, sexual harassment issues and conflict of interest, he elaborated. Turning to what Professor Fernando called the two pillars of physiotherapy education, the curriculum and clinical
education, he suggested that today’s curricula are information over-loaded, trivia infested and over-ripe with mere facts. Curricula need drastic pruning. He reminded the audience that today’s curriculum is and should be designed to produce tomorrow‘s graduate. He identified three characteristics as essential in any worth-while curriculum for tomorrow. It must be patient and not therapist centred, social not pathology driven and scientific evidence not tradition based. In commenting on clinical education, he emphasised the need for student placements to be broadened from the hospital based tradition. Placements and internships must be extended beyond the rural centres to social agencies and consumer advocacy groups, so students develop a better understanding of ‘seamless care’, he added. He noted the need for the academic programme and the clinical education programme not only to be inter-related but resonant with each other. Turning his attention to graduates, Professor Fernando cautioned new
WCPT-South American Region is Born Since 1991, it had not been possible to form a South American Region, but in Bogota in February of this year the new Re ion was born. ?he meeting, encouraged by the WCPT Executive and facilitated by the Associacion Colombiana de Fisioterapia, was attended by representatives of all WCPT South American member organisations, except that the representative from Brazil could not attend at the last moment due to ill health. The WCPT president and secretary-general also attended. The meeting proved to be an excellent forum for the exchange of information on physical therapy in the countries represented, helped by debate being in Spanish. An excellent interpreter translated to and from English. Some members were concerned about other physical therapy
Asociacio n Colombiana de Fisioterapia The Association is 40 years old. There are 1,500 members out of 3,500 physical therapists in Colombia, 60% of whom are female. There are 11 physical therapy schools but no central curriculum control at present which is a major concern of the Association. The population of more than 34 million live in rural areas where there are only 700 physical therapists, the rest work in the cities.
Physiotherapy, July 1994, vol80, no 7
associations in South America which were not WCPT members but were members of the Confederacion Latino American0 de Fisioterapia y Kinesiologia (CIAFK) but this was alleviated when it was clear that there was no need for the two organisations to amalgamate. The resolution among those present was then to initiate a WCPT-South American Region and elections resulted in the following: Chairman Maria Cristina de Gomez, Colombia Secretary/treasurer Alexis Selios, Uruguay Vice-chairman Janet Romero, Venezuela WCPT regional member Pedro Mancilla, Chile There is to be a first meeting of the region in October in Chile, where a set of regional rules and other matters will be finalised. Physical therapy concerns in South America are very similar to those in Africa - endeavour to raise and maintain the educational level and then to retain the new graduates in the continent, rather than see their flight to the USA, where they are welcomed despite the need for English language competence. The Asociacion Colombiana de Fisioterapia hosted a very pleasant and relaxing meeting, engendering good co-operation and an excellent outcome.
therapists to evaluate carefully the current romance with technology. Since the stethoscope separated the physician’s ear from the patient’s chest, the gap has progressively increased, he said. We are therapists whose skilled hands have been directed by educated and disciplined minds and that has secured our place in the health care labour spectrum. Research should provide the answers that governments seek, regarding cost effectiveness of our interventions. The presentation was followed by an open forum facilitated by the president.
Attendance Range It must have taken a great deal of organisation to mount the general meeting and congress in such a short time. The events were well attended with participants from 12 African countries and guests from the UK, Netherlands, Norway, USA, Australia and Oman. The debate at the general meeting was lively and constructive with a great deal of exchange about conditions of service in the various countries, how physical therapy education can be enhanced from diploma to degree level in some countries; how new graduates can be persuaded to stay in Africa, instead of being taken by recruiters to the USA; and the role of community based rehabilitation in rural areas. The election results are as follows:
Chairman - D Madzivire, Zimbabwe Vice-chairman E Sablarolles, Zambia Secretary - M Brand, Zimbabwe Treasurer - J Beenhakker, S Africa
-
Of crucial debate was the financing of the region. Acknowledgment and thanks were given to the generosity of WCPTEurope which had helped financially with various regional activities and particularly with the congress planning and help towards participants’ travel costs. The congress sessions were well attended and the discussion periods of particular interest - on the subjects of education, CBR, acupuncture, manual therapy, etc. Pre- and post-congress courses were also much appreciated although a couple had to be cancelled due to lack of support, much to the disappointment of the organisers.