To mark the unique contribution of all the physiotherapists around the globe the Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (CPRS) of Jamia Millia Islamia(JMI) organized a two-day teaching and learning activity program on 7th and 8th September, 2020 via Google Meet.
Students presented their talk on Rehabilitation and COVID-19 in 3 minutes on day one. The morning session started with the opening remarks addressed by Dr. Zubia Veqar (AP, CPRS). She not only talked about the theme of the event and its relevance in the COVID-19 pandemic, but she also discussed about the inception of physiotherapy in JMI and its remarkable success in such a short span.
The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Syed Akhtar Hussain, Hony. Director, CPRS.
The esteemed panelists for the morning session were Dr. Jaimon Mathew (CEO, Assist Rehab Solutions LLC, California, USA), Dr. Varghese Paul (CEO, Healing Star Physical Therapy and Wellness, New Jersey, USA), Prof. Remya N. (Prof and HOD, Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Ernakulum, Kerala, India) and Dr. Saurabh Sharma (AP, CPRS, Internal Panelist).
The panelist for the afternoon session were Dr P.P Mohanty (Professor and HOD, SVNIRTAR, Cuttack, Odisha, India), Dr Ankit Dogra (VHA Rehab solutions and Ortho Joint Care, Trillium Hospital, Ontario, Canada), and Dr Daman Preet Singh (Assistant Professor, Mother Teresa Saket college of Physiotherapy, Panchkula, Haryana, India), Dr. Jamal Ali Moiz (AP, CPRS, Internal Panelist).
The sessions, were attended by more than 150 participants including the students, faculty members, panelists and research scholars.
After the presentations, there was a brainstorming question – answer session between the presenters and the attendees and the panellists as well. The panelists were highly impressed by the students and their enthusiasm. The sessions were concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Adila Parveen (AP, CPRS) and Dr Shahid Raza on behalf of JMI and CPRS, for the first and second half respectively.
An International webinar on “Rehabilitation and COVID-19” on September 8, 2020 was organised. The program commenced with the welcome address of the eminent dignitaries across the globe by the Honorary Director of the Centre, Prof. Syed Akhtar Husain.
The webinar was inaugurated by the JMI Vice Chancellor Prof. Najma Akhtar. In her address, Prof Akhtar underlined the vital role of physiotherapists in restoring the functioning of the patients in every aspect. She underscored that physiotherapists are not only concentrated to specific age groups or disease rather they deal with wide range of age spectrum, diseases and disorders.
She further added that physiotherapy course has spread its tentacles in cardiovascular, neurological, community-based and geriatric rehabilitation along with its en masse musculoskeletal and sports.
Prof. Akhtar delightfully highlighted the role of physiotherapists as front-line warriors during the time of this pandemic in acute care management and rehabilitation of the patients with COVID-19. She congratulated the centre that at the time of this pandemic the constructive momentum which was created by the centre to acknowledge the role of Rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients will surely provide incontrovertible positivity to the health care professionals across the globe.
The moderator of the seminar was Dr Zubia Veqar (AP, CPRS). The topics which were covered in the webinar were focal point of the discussion in the current period and they grounded upon the exigency of the present scenario. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Hetty Toms, DPT, Outpatient Rehab Manager, Marco Island Rehab Centre, NCH Healthcare system, Florida, USA. She provided excellent coverage to post COVID-19 by incorporating detailed aspects of current COVID-19 statistics and transmission.
Second lecture was on Rehabilitation strategies for COVID-19 by Prof (Dr) G, Arun Maiya, Dean, Manipal college of Health and Professor Dept. Of Physiotherapy, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India. He exceptionally enveloped the functional limitations, activity promotion and exercise recommendation guidelines in COVID-19. He extensively covered safety measures to be taken at the clinical set-up by all health care professionals. The last session was on challenges faced by Indian Physiotherapist during COVID-19 by Dr. Vishwa Prakash Gupta (PT), chief Physiotherapists, Dept. Of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, AIIMS, Delhi. He addressed the current issues and challenges encountered by the health care professionals when dealing with COVID-19 patients.
He provided excellent execution of the current practice and implementation of the guidelines with proper monitoring and response of the patients. He further added that the focal point of the management is comprehensive approach incorporating self care mobility, education, nutritional and psychological counseling along with family support.
