E D I T O R I A L

WCPT A f r i c a  
T o g e t h e r  t o w a r d s  2000

I
t was a landm ark in the history o f South African 
Physiotherapy to have hosted the Fifth General Meeting of 
WCPT Africa, the first meeting to take place in our country. 

The meeting and Congress combined high academic standards 
with to quote Professor Dele Amonsun “the richness o f African 
culture.” It was a unique experience for South African 
Physiotherapists to share ideas with their African colleagues. We 
know that different countries do things differently and there is 
much to learn from one another and what a warm atmosphere to 
do this in! D r Abe Nkomo, Chairperson o f the Portfolio 
Committee on Health delivered the opening address. He remind­
ed us in no uncertain terms of the challenges facing this country 
and more particularly in this context, physiotherapists in South 
Africa. To quote “The challenge is for physiotherapists to prove 
your critics who are labeling you technicians wrong and to 
broaden your scope of practice.” Oh dear - are we still being 
labeled “technicians?” He urged us to redefine our role and be 
creative in our thinking. Primary health care, community based 
rehabilitation, empowering caregivers to carry out rehabilitation

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and the whole question o f student selection and education are not 
new concepts to us and we must be creative to bring about this 
change. Two o f our keynote speakers, Professor Joan Cole from 
Australia and Professor Mariano Rocabado from Chile, brought 
input from the international community reminding us that the 
problems facing us are not that far off from those in other parts 
o f the world. M r Shnaib Chalklen, director o f the office o f the 
Status of Disabled Persons reinforced the need for physiothera­
pists to ensure that their work is effective and to become politi­
cally involved at government level, so that our services will be 
appropriately and judiciously used. The importance of these con­
cepts should be emphasised at student level so that it does not 
seem so unrelated to our profession. This gathering of some 400 
delegates from 19 different nations, many of whom are in differ­
ent stages o f facing challenges brought a togetherness of purpose 
to solve our mutual problems. It was also an opportunity for me 
to invite publications from African Countries as a means of shar­
ing experiences with one another. It is hoped that we will be able 
to produce an all African Journal in February for distribution at 
The World Confederation o f Physiotherapy in 1999 so that we 
can inform the world of the work that is being done in Africa. 
There are interesting, original and unique developments emanat­
ing from this continent -  it would be our privilege to disseminate 
this information.

Notice is hereby given of a National 
Assembly Meeting to be held on 5 and 6 
September 1998 at Medical Distributors, 733 
- 16th Road, Randjespark, Midrand, 
Gauteng.There will be an Open Forum for 

any member of the SASP who would like to 
attend for matters of discussion -  from 8-10 

am on Saturday 5 September.

ADDRESS: South African Society o f Physiotherapy, 
PO BOX 92125 Norwood 2117 

Fax No: 788-5628 E-Mail Address: muriel@icon.co.za

SA J o u r n a l  o f  Ph y sio t h er a py 1998 V o l  54 No 3

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mailto:muriel@icon.co.za