According to guidelines of WCPT, the Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA) observes World Physical Therapy Day each year on 8th September, along with other member organisations of WCPT across the world.
BPA opened World Physical Therapy Day 2019 with a central rally at the premise of the head office of the BPA Savar, Dhaka. More than 500 physiotherapists and students demonstrated solidarity, commitment and love towards the profession with their active engagement in the rally. With the support and guidelines of the divisional committee of the association, all physiotherapy colleges, clinics and rehabilitation centers throughout the country observed various meaningful programmes to spread the spirit of the profession among all stakeholders. Hundreds of patients were able to receive free physiotherapy services and education through free health camps and discussion programmes.
The BPA and Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) also jointly organized a seminar to mark the day. The theme of this seminar was “Physiotherapy is an effective intervention for chronic pain”. Honorable State Minister of Social Welfare Ministry, Mr. Sharif Ahmed, MP participated in the seminar as the chief guest where Additional Secretary of Social Welfare Ministry Mr. Mohammad Ismail attended as a special Guest. In his speech, the State Minister acknowledged the need for physiotherapy services for a vast number of people in Bangladesh. He also highlighted the crucial roles of rehabilitation council for the development of the physiotherapy profession in Bangladesh. BPA believes that the newly formed regulatory will be able to start its work soon.
This year World Physical Therapy Day received immense media attention. A couple of TV Channels, daily newspapers, and radio stations organised special programmes to observe the day. BPA published souvenir, posters, banners, festoons and other information and educational materials for promoting physiotherapy.
TV Channels video link: www.youtube.com/channel/UC_GisI9Kp_hsWTVXUodnDvw
