Kabul, Sun 23 Aug, 2009

Seventeen physical therapists graduated on August 4 at the Physical Therapy Institute (PTI) Kabul after completing a two year modular upgrading program. These physical therapists now have the equivalent of a four year training program. The upgrading program was supported by International Assistance Mission (IAM), International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), Handicap International (HI) and Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA).

Physical therapists (PTs) aim to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability in children and adults. They work in the fields of prevention of injury and disability as well as treatment of a range of conditions involving muscles and the human skeleton. Physical therapy is crucial to many people in Afghanistan who have been injured or who have lost limbs due to landmines and war. There are 250 physical therapists working in Afghanistan, working in 19 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

At the graduation ceremony the graduates plead to abide by a new Code of Conduct. Amongst others this code requires them to serve the people irrespective of their religion, race, tribe or gender. The initiative for this Code of Conduct came from Aziz Ahmad Adel, Project Manager or PTI. He developed the code based partly on the original Hippocratic Oath but also on the book of ethics by the Head of Balkh (Northern Afghanistan) Medical University.

PTI is an example of IAM’s aim to build capacity of Afghans and to leave behind sustainable institutions run by the Afghans themselves.