More than 90 physical therapists from nine countries attended the first international conference held in Ivory Coast.
The week-long training event, organised by the Association Ivoirienne des Masseurs-Kinésithérapeutes (AIMK), attracted physical therapists from Benin, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, as well as a large contingent of local physical therapists from Ivory Coast.
Training modules and presentations covered a range of topics, including: cardiology, rehabilitation, manual therapy, lymphatic drainage, advocacy, governance. Delegates were also able to visit health facilities and rehabilitation centres in Abidjan.
This conference marks the completion of the SUDA project (a partnership with HI) which was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The SUDA project has strengthened the local ties between WCPT-Africa member organisations and there is broad commitment to organise further events to enable physical therapists in the region to share knowledge and experience, and gain CPD through collaboration.
WCPT was represented at the conference by Jonathon Kruger, CEO, Sidy Dieye, Programme Manager, and Joseph Capo-Chichi, Vice Chair of WCPT-Africa.
While in Ivory Coast, the WCPT team met with the Minister of Health to discuss physical therapy entry level programmes, competency standards, and CPD provision. The team also met the head of INFAS (the local education facility) to advocate for the establishment of a Master programme in physical therapy in Ivory Coast.
