Governor Droupadi Murmu has assured physiotherapy practitioners and aspirants from across the country of calling a meeting of all the University Vice Chancellors of the State as soon as possible for paving way for at least one physiotherapy collage under every university. Speaking in inaugural session of three-day Seminar on Physiotherapy on Friday, She also urged physiotherapists and medical fraternity as a whole to serve the needy and the poor in the form of last hope before Almighty.
“Health is a highly personal responsibility and on the other, a major public concern. Protection and promotion of health thus involve joint efforts of the individual, community, the state and service providers like you,” said the Governor inaugurating the ‘55th Annual Conference of The Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP)’ organised by Jharkhand Branch of AIP at RIMS Auditorium. A supported exhibition has also been organised at the venue with more than a dozen companies will showcase their products till the seminar concludes.
Ranchi University Vice Chancellor RK Pandey, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Director Bl Sherwal, Kanke MlA Jeetu Charan Ram, IAP President Umashanker Mohanty and hundreds of delegates and physiotherapy professionals were present during inauguration of the conference, in which some 150 research reports are expected to be discussed during three days other than brainstorming sessions over present situation of physiotherapy as a profession, as an equipment business and the way forward. The dignitaries also released a book named Physiotherapy: An Introduction written in Hindi by noted Physiotherapist from the State AGK Sinha.
The Governor also said that being ex-officio Chancellor of all the universities in the State, she would call a meeting of Vice Chancellors to find ways to have at least one Physiotherapy College under every university. VC Pandey asked Sherwal to come up with the proposal of a physiotherapy course and centre under RIMS, and he would get the same granted from Chancellor Murmu within a month. “I expect the course to be started from July session this year itself,” said Pandey. Sherwal, in return, assured IAP of doing his best to get one physiotherapy centre started as soon as possible in RIMS.
Ex-Chief Minister Arjun Munda said on the occasion that he owed his life to physiotherapy professionals. Recalling his days soon after a helicopter crash in which he sustained injuries, Munda said that he couldn’t have been able even to stand or sit if physiotherapy professionals wouldn’t be there to treat him post trauma. He said that Jharkhand was a State full of physical sports enthusiasts. “If we really want to make the State a sports hub in Hockey, Cricket, Football and those of athletics, we will also have to make it a hub of physiotherapy,” said Munda
The Governor said that health remained a dynamic multi-dimensional concept. She also dwelt upon need for allied health services. laying the foundation of the event, Organising Committee Chairman Dr Sanjeev Kumar Jha said that fitness in India could only grow with understanding the growing needs of physiotherapy. He expressed grief over Jharkhand having no Physiotherapy College in the State.