South America Region meeting
President Emma K Stokes, Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Kruger, and Professional Adviser Pablo Davo Cabra attended a meeting of WCPT’s South America Region (SAR). Hosted by the Asociación Mexicana de Fisioterapia in Puebla, Mexico, the meeting was attended by representatives of all WCPT’s member organisations in the region – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela. Representatives from the Colegio de Terapeutas de Costa Rica also attended the meeting as observers.
Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including migration movements within the region and how this impacted on the recognition of physical therapy qualifications and programmes, online entry level education programmes within the region, and finances.
WCPT’s President and Chief Executive Officer took the opportunity to present the draft constitution and membership engagement strategy to the meeting.
It was agreed further discussions would take place to explore different management models for the region that could develop the structure of the SAR.
Advocacy workshop
Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Kruger, supported by Professional Adviser Pablo Davo Cabra, delivered an advocacy workshop for delegates to the SAR meeting. The workshop, Advocating to develop the physical therapy profession in South America, took place the day after the SAR meeting and succeeded in bringing the member organisations together to share and discuss national advocacy issues and solutions.
Jonathon said: ‘Attending the SAR meeting and delivering the advocacy workshop gave us an opportunity to build relationships, learn about the challenges facing physical therapists in the region, and offer support. I look forward to working collaboratively with our member organisations in the region to develop a proactive and engaging physical therapy profession for South America.’
Following the SAR meeting, 1,500 delegates attended the XX Congreso Latinoamericano de Fisioterapia y Kinesiología (V Congreso WCPT SAR), 7-9 November, at the University Cultural Facilities of Puebla Autonomous University.
