Rehabilitation Week programme continuing with two-day summit
THE Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Health and the National Commission on Disability started a two-day summit yesterday, aimed at educating the wider population more on issues and ways in which to appropriately handle related cases. It is another activity scheduled in light of Rehabilitation Week 2012 and being hosted at Regency Suites Hotel, in Hadfield Street,
Georgetown.
Delivering the feature address at the opening, Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Mr. Leslie Cadogan told the practitioners they should see this as another opportunity to enhance their understanding of topical matters of rehabilitation and health.
“I am happy to know that the agenda provides an excellent example of the diverse areas in rehabilitation to be covered over the next two days,” he said, observing that there is much to be learned from papers being presented at the forum.
In this regard, Cadogan urged the participants to enquire, seek answers and continue to debate the important questions surrounding rehabilitation, as that would work towards the continued development of the services being offered/given to citizens.
He informed that the main goal of the summit is to provide and update knowledge on developments in the field of rehabilitation medicine.
Cadogan said it is also a chance to present what is happening in the field locally at a regional level.
“I understand there are several new regional departments, in places such as Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. This is the time to share these experiences and see how we can build on them,” Cadogan encouraged.

Perfect platform
The Permanent Secretary lauded the initiative saying that it is a perfect platform for sharing and communicating experiences for the future development of rehabilitation services in Guyana.
“I do believe that it is the duty of the Department of Rehabilitation to guarantee the health and full rehabilitation of all our citizens, to offer, in an approachable way, services to people,” he said.
Cadogan posited that rehabilitation service providers are vital partners in health care and, as such, practitioners should, at all times, be able to deliver quality health care to citizens.
“I am pleased to see all of you here from the various Regions and I am sure you will have a very productive meeting with fruitful discussions over the next two days,” he concluded.
From yesterday through today, the practitioners will review and reassess the programmes and activities in their respective Regions.
Insightful presentations and interactive sessions on communication for optimal rehabilitation, mirror therapy, stroke rehabilitation and recurrent dislocation of joints were among the agenda subjects.
This year’s summit is the second. In 2009, the first summit was inaugurated under the theme ‘Rehab-Evidence based action’ and that offered a stage on which to also update rehabilitation practitioners on current practises and new technologies available in the field.
The summit is an integral part of Rehabilitation Week activities as the Health Ministry continues to accentuate the services in Guyana, while striving towards one of its stated goals – that all preventable disabilities are reduced and all persons with disabilities are receiving equitable and high quality services that enable them to function as equal citizens.
The week long observances began in June 2003, then themed ‘Reaching out’.