ALSAYER MEDICAL PARTNERS WITH MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR THE FIRST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SYMPOSIUM
05 Feb 2020
To increase awareness about the valuable role of Occupational Therapy in the Community, ALSAYER Medical Company, a subsidiary of ALSAYER Holding is partner for the first Occupational Therapy Conference organized by the social committee of Occupational Therapy and managed by specialists.
The conference is sponsored by Dr. Salah Al-Shaiji, Director of the Natural Medicine and Health Rehabilitation Hospital in cooperation with KAFO of Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, which will be held in Kuwait National Library Theater on Saturday 8 February 2020 from 10 am to 3 pm.
The event will include discussions and seminars on the role of the occupational therapy in the interaction of people with special needs with the society, improvement of the elder care within the national development plan emanating from the high vision of his highness, the Amir of the State, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for Kuwait Vision 2035.
The main objectives of this conference are:
- Achieving opportunities for cooperation between competencies from various specialties to provide programs focused on promoting health and prevention
- Demonstrating the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy with scientific evidence
Conference participants:
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Fawaz Al-Refai – Assistant Undersecretary for Supportive Medical Services
Hanadi Al-Mabailash – Representative of Public Authority of The Disabled
Shafi Al-Hajri – Representative of Kuwait Disabled Sport Club
Participating entities
General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development
Faculty members of Kuwait University
Child Evaluation and Education Centre
Department of Occupational Therapy of Ministry of Health
Definition of Occupation Therapy
Occupational therapy is one of the supportive medical professions that is based on evaluation and then treatment of daily life skills for people with physical, neurological or cognitive problems. This is by developing their capabilities, restoring them as they were before, or preserving them from retreat and deterioration.
Therapists work with a focus on identifying and removing environmental barriers, which increases patient independence and participation in daily activities.
Occupational therapy focuses on the patient's priorities and interests and then the pursuit of these goals.
Occupational therapy interventions focus on: adapting to the environment, adjusting tasks, teaching skills, and educating the patient and his family in order to increase participation and perform daily activities, especially activities that are meaningful to the patient.
History of Occupational Therapy in Kuwait
The Department of Occupational Therapy was established in the eighties. The department was developed in various stages where the presence of the Canadian team contributed in exchanging experiences and developing the services of wheelchairs and swallowing difficulties as well as establishing and developing the Department of Occupational Therapy in Kuwait University, and scientific and practical experiences were exchanged with Ministry of Health and the Department of Occupational Therapy in Kuwait University.
The first class of occupational therapy specialists graduated from Kuwait University in 2013, they have been professionally and masterly trained under the supervision of Kuwait University and the head of the department until the foundations were set and the department achieved the modern practice and major improvement in that period, and the driving test service was developed in cooperation with the Traffic Department during the expansion of the Department of Occupational Therapy.
In addition to developing the mechanism of providing the wheelchair in cooperation with Public Authority of The Disabled and more as there is a cooperation with Public Authority of The Disabled to develop the concepts of disability according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as well as submitting proposals of preparing the public buildings of the State to enable the access of people with various types of disabilities.