WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Forty-sixth session Manila 11-15 September 1995
WPRfRC46ING017 IS September 1995 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
STATEMENT BY MRS SANDRA MERCER-MOORE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORLD CONFEDERATION FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY
Mr Chairman, distinguished Representatives, the Regional Director, Dr Han, Representatives of specialized agencies of the United Nations, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, ladies and gentlemen, The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) represents more than 250000 physical therapists worldwide from 66 member organizations. We were very pleased to admit the Fiji Physiotherapy Association to full membership at the last General Meeting in June of this year which was held in Washington DC. The World Confederation for Physical Therapy aims to improve the quality of global health care by representing Physical Therapy internationally through communication, exchange of information and cooperation with International and National Organizations and by encouraging high standards of Physical Therapy through research, education, practice and achieving appropriate staffing levels. A recent major collaborative activity was to cooperate with WHO and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists to produce a manual for mid-level rehabilitation workers "Promoting the development of Young Children with Cerebral Palsy". This manual is available in English, French and Spanish from WHO in Geneva and is currently being translated into the Chinese language. Similar manuals using this same collaborative approach have been prepared on "Care of Spina Bifida" and "Spinal Cord Injuries". These are currently being reviewed prior to publication and will be available later this year.
WPRlRC46ING0!7 page 2
The conjoint publications have been arranged at headquarters level, however, since the World Confederation for Physical Therapy has adopted an organizational structure based on a decentralized model of five regions, we now have at the WCPT Asia Western Pacific Regional level, resources which enable us to adapt or modify publications to reflect the cultural values and lifestyles of the peoples of the Region. We are, therefore, able to offer our assistance, should you require it, at Regional level. Our Secretariat is based in the offices of the Australian Physiotherapy Association in Melbourne, Australia. In March 1995, 18 representatives from the five WCPT Regions gathered in Copenhagen to attend an International Training Seminar for Physiotherapy Educators on Ethics and Torture. Four of these participants were from the Asia Western Pacific Region. The Seminar was jointly sponsored by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and WCPT. Data collected by IRCT informs us that torture exists in many countries of the world - it is not just a phenomenon of the Middle Ages and concentration camps. Countries with high refugee populations will have survivors of torture and both domestic abuse and criminal violence create more victims. Special skills are needed in handling abused victims especially at the physical level. It is important to be aware of how these traumas are inflicted and how to treat sensitively and appropriately in a manner and environment which avoids retriggering painful memories which further perpetuate the violence. Small group work in WCPT Regions was used in the Seminar. Asia Western Pacific links will be strengthened and utilized by the regional participants at a joint presentation at the Regional Conference in Malaysia next year. The theme of this conference is "Current Trends in the Management of Musculo-skeletal Disorders". Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, I am grateful for the opportunity to address you today and reiterate my offer of assistance at Regional level in any matters pertaining to Physical Therapy. We would be pleased to assist with data we have collected on Community-based Rehabilitation Programmes in the Region, appropriate preventive exercise programmes in the Care of the Elderly and undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy education programmes. On behalf of WCPT Asia Western Pacific Region, I wish you every success in implementing New Horizons in Health and pledge our support in promoting good health to all. Thank you.
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