World Physiotherapy Day: September 8th, 2022
September 8th is World Physiotherapy Day, honoring the unity and solidarity of the global physical therapy community.
Each year a designated theme is selected by the World Physiotherapy Congress to promote education and the role of physical therapists. The theme for World PT Day 2022 is osteoarthritis.
LIFE Therapy will honor the day by providing an open house for the community and will provide free services and screenings for therapy on this day and education regarding osteoarthritis.
ABOUT LIFE THERAPY CLINIC
LIFE Therapy Clinic provides Physical and Occupational therapy for children in myLIFEspeaks care and children and adults from surrounding communities.
Our Haitian therapy professionals and assistants see patients of all ages and abilities. From children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to adults suffering from post-stroke symptoms, broken bones, or chronic conditions; LIFE Therapists rehabilitate and enhance the quality of LIFE for their patients.
In addition to physical rehabilitation, the LIFE Therapy staff prays with every willing patient, sharing the Gospel of the One True Healer, Jesus Christ.
HOW IT BEGAN
LIFE Therapy Clinic was started in 2012 by an Occupational Therapy intern (Elizabeth) from the US to help meet the needs of the children in myLIFEspeaks’ care and soon expanded to the community.
Soon after, a Physical Therapist from the US (Rhonda) got involved to see that basic therapy services would continue through the hands of local Haitians during the absence of a full-time therapist in Haiti via ongoing training and supervision on-site and remotely.
In 2016, the US doctor of Physical Therapy (Rhonda) moved to Neply full time and helped in the expansion of therapy services to the community of Neply and surrounding areas. At this time therapy services were expanded to offer physical therapy to both pediatrics and adults.
LIFE Therapy continued to rapidly grow out of its small one-room closet-sized space and now has a fully self-contained clinic building.
PATIENTS AND CARE
LIFE Therapy Clinic has between 70-80 patient appointments every week for different occupational/physical therapy needs.
The main issues LIFE Therapy Clinic treats are:
Adults: neurological (stroke), orthopedics (post-fracture, sports injuries, arthritis)
Pediatrics - developmental delays from unknown etiology, malnutrition, neglect, syndrome-related; neurological (stroke, cerebral palsy), orthopedics (post-fracture, sports injury)
HAITIAN leadership
This year, LIFE Therapy is under the direction of one of the first Physical Therapists to graduate from one of two physical therapy programs in Haiti. The all Haitian staff includes 2 full-time PT’s, 1 certified rehabilitation technician, and 1 therapy assistant. LIFE Therapy also supports two students going to a nearby PT school who also serve as therapy assistants in our clinic.
