World Confederation fo r Physical Therapy Africa R eg io n - Second Regional Congress, Harare ■ Jo Beenhakker The second regional congress was hosted by the Z im ­ babw e Physiotherapy A ssociation during Septem ber 18-28 1996. W ith only 139 m em bers belonging to the association, all physiotherapists were involved from the beginning and showed great com m itm ent to assist in all stages of the organisation of the congress. Prior to congress several courses were held which pro­ vided a variety of subjects. These included an update on cardio-respiratory m anagem ent and an update on the m an­ a g e m e n t o f p a t ie n t s w ith s tr o k e b y Jo h a n n e s b u r g physiotherapists. G raham Sm ith ran successful pre and post congress courses on the m anagem ent of sports injuries with em phasis on hip and groin injuries and the problem knee, [ostein Ellingsen, a teacher on the two year diploma course in m anual therapy, was responsible for an introduc­ tory and advanced course on the N ordic approach to m an­ ual therapy in the m anagem ent of the lum bar spine. O ther post congress courses offered by South Africans were a fresh approach to the m anagem ent of children with brain dam age by Pam H ansford and m yofascial release by M arge Steffen. It was a pity that the course to be run by Stephanie Kem p on com m unity-based rehabilitation in paediatrics was undersubscribed as this is surely a m ost worthw hile and essential area of physiotherapy in Africa. In the m ornings key note lectures by physiotherapists were given by Graham Smith, M ary Riley, Helen Myezwa and M arge Steffen, all of which were well received. Topics covered were tissue repair, m otor learning, com m unity- based rehabilitation and healing of connective tissue. Fur­ ther scientific presentations covered many areas of concern to the physiotherapists in Africa such as HIV and AIDS, cerebral palsy, referral patterns from m edical practitioners and obligations to torture victims. Inform ed consent was discussed and it was stressed that in the p h y sio th e rap y / p a­ tient relationship m utual trust, respect and confidentiality w ere essential. The physiotherapist needs to ensure that there is effective com m unication in order to provide infor­ m ation on the benefits and risks that m ay be involved and to realise that the patient has the right to refuse treatm ent at any stage. The respect of the autonom y of the patient m ust be m aintained throughout. In the afternoons, w orkshops w ere given which unfor­ tunately were too short for reasonable exchange of ideas. An interesting array of topics were offered how ever, such as research, acupuncture, m anagem ent of survivors of tor­ ture, burns stroke, fitness training and pain control. On the w hole this con g ress w as g reat success and achieved m any of the goals set. There was good regional representation on the stage as well as in the audience, useful update of research and clinical expertise and foster­ ing of regional identity. Congratulations to Passion M usa, the congress Chair, the scientific com m ittee of M arlene Brand, Jen n y Jelsm a and H eath e r D aw so n , to C arrie Lapham who organised the social program m e and Stella Sigogo who coordinated the transport and buddy system. Participants were fetched from the airport and collected from and returned to their hotels each day by a sm all band of volunteers. It will be South A frica's turn to host the next congress in 1998. It is hoped that the congress com m ittee will soon be sending out notices of the date and venue of the third W CPT-Africa regional congress and w illb e inviting partici­ pants from Africa and further abroad. This is the only way that we will be able to m atch the entertaining social events and the well run and inform ative scientific program m e that was offered at the second regional congress. The Smith and Nephew Educational Trust Sm ith and N ephew annually donate a Travel Bursary to m em bers of the SASP in recognition of the long association of the C om pany w ith the physiotherapy profession. Criteria for the award of this annual bursary • The N ational A ssem bly selects the suitable candidate or candidates. • The bursary is awarded to a physiotherapist who is presenting a paper at a local or overseas congress. • The successful candidate will undertake to write an article relating to the paper presented, and to submit this article to the Editor of the SA Journal Physio­ therapy within six m onths of presenting the paper. • If the paper has been published in the Proceedings of the Congress attended, prior perm ission for its publication in the SA Journal of Physiotherapy m ust be obtained from the Congress Secretariat). • Applications from any physiotherapist who will be pre­ senting a paper at a congress, m ust be subm itted to the Head Office of the SASP, together with a short CV and motivation. • The closing date for the 1997 Travel Bursary is 30 April 1997. The South A frican Society of Physiotherap y is very grateful for this generous gesture by Sm ith and Nephew, which will be of particular value in these difficult econom ic times. B la d s y 1 8 F e b r u a r ie 1997 SA T y d s k rif F is io te ra p ie , D e e 1 5 3 N o 1 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )