Mainstream occupational therapy into healthcare system — Appiah- Denkyira

The immediate past Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, has asked for more emphasis to be placed on occupational therapy to improve health care in the country.

He said there was the need to have a good blend of conventional medical practice with the services of occupational therapists to make patients functional and also integrate persons with special needs into the society.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira made the observation while addressing the opening session of the 10th anniversary of the Occupational Therapists Association Africa Regional Group (OTAARG) held in Accra yesterday.

Held on the theme: “Occupational Therapy in Africa: Changing Lives Positively”, the event drew occupational therapy specialists from across the continent and other parts of the world.

Employment

Dr Appiah-Denkyira called on the Ministry of Health (MOH) to seek financial clearance for the employment of occupational therapists who had completed their courses and internships but who were yet to be employed to work as professionals.

“For now, we have about 30 of such people who need to be employed to begin their professional services. Even if it is not possible to give them immediate employment, there should be a system in place to create departments at hospitals so that they will get value for their worth,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Institutional Care Division of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba, said given the increasing need for the services of occupational therapists in healthcare delivery, steps would be taken to seek financial clearance for the professionals in that field.

“As a country, we have no option but to develop occupational therapy and mainstream it into our healthcare system in a manner that will enhance rehabilitation of patients,” he stressed.

{loadmodule mod_banners,Nativead1}

Partnership

The President of the Occupational Therapists Association of Ghana (OTAG), Mr Peter Owusu Ndaa, said the association would partner the government in key areas of need, especially mental health and persons with disability.

He said there was the need for academic institutions to develop their curriculum to respond to the need for occupational therapy in the country.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists are allied health professionals who help their clients to be able to carry out their day-to-day activities irrespective of the state of disability or medical condition they find themselves in.

They assist people who are dysfunctional in life due to congenital defects or accidents by bringing them back to a state where they are able to live normally.