WCPT -AFRICA Dr Jo Beenhakker Treasurer WCPT-Africa The first Congress of the African Region of WCPT was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 8 - 11th April, 1994. Member countries of the Region present were Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zam bia and Zim babw e, while observers and delegates from Bot­ sw an a, C am ero o n , M alaw i, N am ibia, Oman, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda also participated. There were additional speakers and workshop leaders from Can­ ada, England, Holland, Norway and Scot­ land. The Region was privileged to have the President and General Secretary of WCPT, Professor AJ Fernando and Mrs Margaret O 'H are Knight who attended both the General Meeting and Congress. WCPT- Africa was congratulated on being the first of the five regions to host a congress. GENERAL A SSEM BLY This was well attended by official dele­ gates and observers from eleven African countries and old friendships were re­ newed and new links forged. The meeting encouraged strong inter­ regional links between member countries of WCPT-Africa and non members, in or­ der to improve the awareness of physio­ therapy in the various countries. The executive committee has enjoyed good support and regular communication from Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, but the President, Mrs Dorcas Madzivire urged representatives to pro­ vide regular information for the regional n e w sle tte r . C o m m u n ica tio n b etw een WCPT-Europe and the African region has been fruitful and most helpful. WCPT, which assisted African coun­ tries in the past with sponsorship o f eight physiotherapists to the course in Malta, also funded the first congress flyer and assisted one delegate from each member country to the congress. Reports were given by the five member organisations and useful information was shared. One of the problems facing most A fr ic a n c o u n tr ie s w as th e lu re o f physiotherapists from these countries, where their services are so desperately needed, to America. One of the reasons was the poor conditions of service and low salaries paid in the public sector. Monthly salaries vary from 45 US dollars (plus housing) in Uganda, 126 US dollars in Zambia, 750 in South Africa and 850 in N igeria. The m eeting strongly recom­ m ended that various African G overn­ ments should be urged to review the pre­ v a ilin g c o n d itio n s o f s e r v ic e for physiotherapists. The need for mid-level workers was agreed to and the importance of Community-based rehabilitation was recognised. Governments are to be urged to consult with physiotherapists in setting up such programmes in the various coun­ tries. Finance of the Region remains a problem and methods of raising funds need to be found. We cannot rely solely on a s s is ta n c e fro m W C PT and W C PT- Europe. The President (Mrs Dorcas Madzivire) and Secretary (Mrs Marlene Brand) were re-elected for a further two year period and thanked for all the work done for the Region. Emma Sablerolles of Zambia be­ comes the new Vice-President and Jo Been­ hakker takes over the Treasurer's portfolio from Sheena Irwin-Carruthers. Congress Arranging the Congress was the big­ gest challenge yet for the region. The Kenya Society of Physiotherapy, under the chairmanship of Alfred Otieno did the groundwork in Nairobi, while the execu­ tive committee operated from Harare and formed the Scientific Congress Committee under the chairmanship of Jo Beenhakker. The theme of the congress was Reach for R ehabilitation: Physiotherapy in a changing Africa. Because of the changing socio-economic and political changes tak­ ing place in Africa, it was hoped to provide a platform for all African physiotherapists to exch an ge id eas on the p ra ctice of physiotherapy on the continent. Subjects covered in the congress and pre-congress workshops varied widely. These included Acupuncture, Industrial Back problems, orthopaedic manipulative therapy and Education. Papers were also given on Quality Assurance, Community- based rehabilitation, specific health prob­ lems in Africa and community involve­ ment in rehabilitation. At special interest meetings, five inter­ est groups were formed to promote inter­ action between member countries. These groups were Sports Injuries, Geriatrics, Neurology, Physiotherapy Education and Acupuncture. The next General Meeting and Con­ gress will be held in Zimbabwe in 1996 and hopefully many more South Africans will participate in this event. THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND will present a post-graduate course on M YO FA SC IAL PAIN A N D DYSFUNCTIO N, TRIGGER POINTS A N D AD VERSE N EU R A L TENSION COURSE LEA DER: M rs D Sw eatm an - a private practitioner from the Cape who is well known for the excellence of her courses. ASSISTANT: Claire Louw COURSE COOR DINATORS: C Cunningham , L Hunter THIS COURSE W ILL BE CERTIFICATED BY THE UNIVERSITY DATES: Friday 21 October - Su n d ay 23 October 1994 TIMES: Approxim ately 0 8 h3 0 -1 6 h 3 0 daily VEN U E : Prac L 1, Wits Physio Dept COST: R 400 to be sent with application (includes R150 non-returnable deposit). The fee will cover lunches, teas and comprehensive course notes. NB: N U M B E RS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 40 BOOKINGS: Return form below. Only written applications will be accepted EN Q U IRIES: M rs H aw kins ( O i l ) 4 8 8 -3 4 5 0 M o n d a y s to Fridays (m orn in gs only) CHEQUES payab le to "Un iversity of the W itwatersrand" A P P L I C A T I O N F O R M : W IT S P O S T - G R A D U A T E C O U R S E M Y O F A S C I A L P A I N A N D D Y S F U N C T I O N , T R I G G E R P O I N T S , A D V E R S E N E U R A L T E N S I O N 2 1 - 2 3 O C T O B E R 1 9 9 4 , W IT S P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y D E P T N A M E . . A D D R E S S CO DE TEL N U M BE R S: W O R K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H O M E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S A M D C REGISTRATION N O : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FEES: R 4 0 0 PLEASE S EN D Y O U R APPLICATION F O R M , TO GETH ER WITH Y O U R C H E Q U E , T O : PHYSIOTHERAPY D EPARTM ENT (OCT COURSE), M EDIC AL SC H O O L, 7 Y O R K R O A D , PARKTOWN JO H AN N ES B U R G 2 1 9 3 . CHEQUES M A Y BE M A D E P AYAB LE TO "UNIVERSITY O F T H E W flW A TER S RA ND ". w m 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. )