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Five SCA Physical Therapists graduated

Kabul, August 4, 2009

Five Physical Therapists from the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) were amongst the 17 physical therapists graduating on August 4 at the Physical Therapy Institute (PTI) in Kabul after completing a two year modular upgrading program. These physical therapists now have the equivalent of a four year training program. The upgrading program was supported by SCA, International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), International Assistance Mission (IAM) and Handicap International (HI).

Physical therapists (PTs) aim to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability in children and adults. They work in the fields of prevention of injury and disability as well as treatment of a range of conditions involving the musculo-skeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory systems

“We learnt more new methods in physiotherapy. We will plan and conduct several capacity building trainings as refreshers, on job trainings and formal trainings to other SCA physiotherapists in the field” says Abdul Malik Halim, SCA graduate.

SCA is a prime supporter of PTI and the Afghan Association for Physical Therapists (AAPT) in Kabul. SCA financial support to their activities, have seconded an expatriate physiotherapy advisor to work with PTI and AAPT and enabled another female SCA physical therapist to be released from her duties two weeks per month to fulfil her role as President of AAPT. The five SCA physical therapists will be contributing 100 teaching hours at PTI while continuing their work with SCA. SCA is committed to the implementation of physical rehabilitation part of BPHS and EPHS.

Mr. Zemari Saqib SCA’s Rehabilitation of Afghans with Disabilities (RAD) programme’s coordinator says it is crucial to ask the Ministries of Health, Higher Education and other related organisations to recognize the current certificate of these newly upgraded future PT teachers and continue their support for the three year curriculum of PTI.

There are 250 physical therapists working in Afghanistan, 90 of who work with SCA. SCA supports 43 physiotherapy clinics in 43 districts of 13 provinces in Afghanistan. SCA is providing services to people with disabilities as a result of conditions such as stroke, polio, cerebral palsy and club foot, as people with back pain, fractures and joint pain. The majority of the clinics treat males and females.

SCA started providing physiotherapy services in Takhar province in 1991. The program has expanded to include special inclusive education, community mobilization, orthopaedic services, employment support and capacity building in thirteen provinces. SCA also works in the field of rural development, health and Education. SCA is working with MoPH to handover physiotherapy clinics to the BPHS implementers for Ministry of Public Health Affairs in 5-10 years.