GUU inducts pioneer physiotherapy graduates

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By Steve Oko

Gregory University Uturu (GUU), Abia State, has inducted its pioneer physiotherapy graduates.

This is coming barely a month it inducted its first set of graduate nurses and two months after its third induction of 83 medical doctors.

In her address at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Cele Njoku, said it was “a gratifying evidence that the institution is on the right path towards achieving its vision and mission”.

She added that it was a significant milestone not only in the lives of the graduates but also for the institution as it released into the health sector, physiotherapists who would pave the way for future health services.

The VC charged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution and to be guided by the ethics of their profession.

She equally charged them to embrace the current technology-driven trends and render quality services.

The Pro-chancellor, Professor Augustine Uwakwe, urged the graduates “to embrace the mindset of lifelong learning, stay informed and adaptable” for efficient service delivery.

Delivering induction lecture, the Head Department of Physiotherapy, David Umahi federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, Dr Petronilla Ojukwu, highlighted the merits of running physiotherapy as Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), over Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT).

Speaking on:”‘Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) and Beyond: Embracing Clinical Autonomy in Physiotherapy Practice”, Dr Ojukwu stressed the need for clinical autonomy of Physiotherapists.

Noting that most countries had since transited from BPT to DPT, the Associate Professor urged institutions running physiotherapy to upgrade to DTP so as to make their products globally relevant.

She said:”Most countries now train their physiotherapy students at DPT level, and no longer BPT. They don’t run BPT programmes anymore. In Nigeria also, so many universities have commenced the DPT programme.

“It deepens the philosophy of training and offers more depth to what the students gain in school, as well as increasing the scope of practice. It has a better curriculum structure and gives more opportunities out there.

She also identified the growing complexity of patients’ needs as one of the reasons for upgrade from BTP to DPT.

“There is need to upgrade the way we manage our patients. Physiotherapists need to see their patients on first contact levels. The patients we manage are beginning to exhibit a lot of complex characteristics relative to the types or the prevalences of chronic conditions, the co-morbidities we see, unlike before.

“For example, in the past, physiotherapists were not involved in management of cancer patients. But today, we are one of the key team members in the management of cancer patients, and so on and so forth.

“In the past, we didn’t have specialties like women’s health and pelvic physiotherapy, but today they are all there. Because we see a lot of conditions and a lot of presentations that are different from what we used to see before.

“There is also a quest to keep pace with the expanding body of knowledge in healthcare. So we won’t just stay where we have been in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, whereas new knowledge is evolving. The DPT programme was also found necessary because there is a need to align with global standards. We don’t want our students to go out there and they are unable to meet up with the global trends in other countries.”

“So if the curriculum is upgraded, it gives us more edge to practice at multidisciplinary levels. And most importantly, the DPT programme will expand clinical autonomy. This is the ability of physiotherapists to assess, diagnose and refer without mandate from other physicians.

” If patients had access to physiotherapists directly, they would have come early enough. There are many complications that can be averted by timely and efficient referral. This is one of the merits of clinical autonomy.

” For the Nigerian healthcare system, if we begin to graduate DPT trained physiotherapists, it will improve access to primary and specialized care. Physiotherapists will have more access to their patients on first contact basis, as well as address rural and underserved areas in the communities.

“It will enhance clinical decision making and quality of care. It will also reduce healthcare costs. It will also strengthen multidisciplinary healthcare team, which is the way to go right now in healthcare service delivery. Nobody manages a patient in autonomy. Managing patients effectively requires collaboration among healthcare professionals. And this is one of the benefits that will be strengthened by adopting the DPT training.

She further said it would give physiotherapists graduates better opportunities to secure jobs or training programmes outside abroad.

Continuing, Dr Ojukwu said:”Transitioning to the DPT programme in Nigeria is not just an academic upgrade; It is a strategic reform that will transform healthcare delivery across the country.

“It will bring Nigeria closer to meeting global standards. It will strengthen its health system and open the door to clinical excellence, independence and leadership.”

She commended the management of GUU for its foresight in going for competitive and globally relevant programmes.

“Today, you have not only raised graduates, you’ve nurtured healers and change-makers.”

She charged the graduands to be focused and determined to make positive impacts.

“Wear your white coats or your scrubs with humility; your knowledge with confidence and your calling with honour. Strive for excellence. Embrace lifelong learning, never stop learning, and remember, autonomy in practice begins with responsibility and purpose.”

In his speech, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria, Professor Ahmed Rufai, said “universities identify societal problems and then launch programmes so they can produce the manpower to solve those problems.”

He, therefore, commended the management of GUU for its doggedness and contributions towards improving the education sector.

“I know what it means to establish programme like physiotherapy. We regulate the programme, we do accreditations, we are the ones that send the guidance. I know the equipment is huge. There is staffing and many other things. Some universities may decide, let’s launch programmes that don’t require very expensive equipment.”

The Registrar lent his weight behind the advocacy for transition from BTP to DPT to upgrade the efficiency of Physiotherapists.

“Dr Ojukwu has mentioned a lot of things about physiotherapy. I just want to add that things have changed in the way we see the profession.

“Times have changed and all these things are important and that is why many universities are mounting the DPT programme and many people are joining so that they can help in solving problems.”

“Patients can go straight to the physiotherapist, they get assessed and they are treated. What the DPT curriculum has in addition to the BPT is a post-course systems review where you can assess the patient for any underlying disease that is not within the scope of your practice so that you don’t leave the patient with that disease while treating them.

“Physiotherapists are the highest-paid health workers in US and other developed countries because they are directly engaged in the management of athletes.

“When Ronaldo or Messi has an injury and journalists ask them: when are you going back to the field? They will say: it depends on what my physiotherapist says.”

He noted that the transition from BTP to DPT in the training of Physiotherapists by many institutions had enhanced the competence of their graduates.

The Registrar charged the graduands to go and make positive impacts in society.

“You are produced to go out there and solve problems of the community, and of the society. It’s not just about you or your parents or your siblings. So think of that bigger picture. The world awaits your healing touch. I know you will bring radical change to the physiotherapy profession”.

He also charged them to be guided by the ethics of the profession, and to place the welfare of their patients above every other considerations.

The Registrar further charged the graduands to quickly go for specialisation so as to render services more efficiently.

“The era of graduating and practicing for 30 years without specialization is over. Therefore, the moment you start your internship, begin to think of what area you want to specialize in. So by the time you complete your internship, you must start taking courses towards that at the early stage.The Postgraduate Physiotherapy College is there. In the past, we didn’t have any. Now we have it.”

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.