Date: 12/09/2005
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title:Belot: Opening of 2005 Back Week
Speech by the MEC of Health, Mr ST Belot, at the occasion of the opening of 2005 Back Week, CR Swart Building, University of Free State
Programme Director,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Annually, the South African Society of Physiotherapy in co-operation with the Department of Health organises a focus week to focus attention on issues relating to good back health.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to be invited to this event and to give my support to this programme during the Back Week awareness week. The primary aim of this focus week is to alert all the citizens of the Free State about the importance of caring for their backs and spines. Physiotherapists from all the health care centres have participated in the programmes held during the week since September providing free advice and information to the public.
The Free State Department of Health has an extensive network of service points where patients can be treated in the various fields of physiotherapy. The physiotherapy programme in public health facilities is alive and well. Currently we have 48 full time physiotherapy posts and continue to source staff in this much-needed category. There are also 27 community services physiotherapists who are mainly based at the primary health care level providing services at clinics, community health centres and district hospitals. This has improved access to services as assistance is also provided at old age homes and schools and home visits are also done. At primary level the focus is group classes for stroke patients, hypertension, lower back problems, for children suffering from cerebral palsy and their carers and chest conditions amongst others.
Twenty-four-hour services are also rendered at secondary hospital level. The focus in the hospitals falls more on treatment of patients from specialised units where rehabilitation treatment is part of their healing process. As I have mentioned earlier, the impact of physiotherapy services on the patient is a positive intervention as in most cases it contributes towards reducing the financial burden on a patient as the patient becomes more independent.
As part of our efforts to improve and encourage healthy lifestyles, the Department has initiated a project focussing on obesity project in six schools, which took part in the “Youth Risk Behaviour Survey” in 2002. Healthy lifestyles with physical activities in particular are emphasised and support groups for these activities have been formed in three of the schools. The project is being rolled out to others schools and although still in its development stage has shown that integration of services is essential for the well being of all these scholars and during the back week special emphasis was placed on back care with other activity programs being a long-term project.
Programme Director, this morning we are here to draw attention to the importance of not just looking after one’s own health but to be exposed to information that can prevent serious pain and discomfort in future. Back Week 2005 focuses on ways in which people can avoid back injuries in the work place. The theme for today’s event is Occupational Health, mainly due to the impact of the costs related to the treatment of lower back pain that can be caused by incorrect posture and exposure to unfriendly working conditions.
We want to encourage healthy living and want our citizens to take care of their own health. We often forget to focus on correct methods of pick-up items, bending and using the complete body to our disposal. During this week we wanted to focus the attention on promoting caring for one’s back as many people suffer from back pain and are not treated suitably.
Statistics in the South Africa has shown that lower back pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions by physiotherapists resulting in the largest portion of work absenteeism. At least 80% of the South African workplace suffers from severe discomfort and disability due to the problems that arise from low back pain. Although there are no official figures available on the cost of disability, it is estimated that worker disability in 1999 cost the economy more than R2 billion. At this stage we can assume that it has escalated to over R6 billion.
This year the theme of the Physiotherapy Back Week is ‘The Busy Body’ and our focus is on school children, sedentary workers and the aged. We also focussed on people in management, all health workers and home-based carers.
This morning we will witness several practical demonstrations specifically designed to focus on the office worker, as the vast majority have sedentary jobs. Whether one has a managerial position or one works in a factory, chances are that you spend a large portion of your day sitting. Back pain, after colds and flu, is the main cause of work absenteeism. The largest contributor is a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of exercise.
Ladies and Gentlemen, one of our target audiences with this awareness week was school children who often carry heavy school bags, sit for long periods in class rooms on hard wooden benches, slouch in front of the television at home, being inactive and having bad eating habits. Children from a young age are now being referred for physiotherapy treatment for back problems. A contributing factor is the carrying of heavy school bags containing all their schoolbooks. The schoolbag is usually inappropriately designed, or used as a fashion statement and not worn correctly over both shoulders but rather made to be hung over one shoulder.
Many of our elderly patients complain of stiffness, weak muscles and painful joints. Much of this is due to wear and tear of joints associated with aging and aggravated by trauma or poor posture. Many of these problems can be alleviated by participation in organised exercise programmes. During this week we’ve paid special attention to the elderly at old age homes and the clinics.
Ladies and gentlemen, physiotherapy staff of the department has worked hard during this week to provide free information and advice and a toll-free line is also available for people with specific back queries. The number to call is 0800 001 870 and is available on the pamphlets in the foyer.
Lastly, I want to appeal to learners and students planning their future studies and a career to consider studying to become a physiotherapist. There are 10 bursaries available each year for potential students and I invite learners to apply. Let me leave you with this thought, exercise every day helps keep back pain at bay. An apple a day may be more appealing, but taken with exercise, it may help chronic back pain sufferers control symptoms and do their activities with greater ease.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
12 September 2005
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title:Belot: Opening of 2005 Back Week
Speech by the MEC of Health, Mr ST Belot, at the occasion of the opening of 2005 Back Week, CR Swart Building, University of Free State
Programme Director,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Annually, the South African Society of Physiotherapy in co-operation with the Department of Health organises a focus week to focus attention on issues relating to good back health.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to be invited to this event and to give my support to this programme during the Back Week awareness week. The primary aim of this focus week is to alert all the citizens of the Free State about the importance of caring for their backs and spines. Physiotherapists from all the health care centres have participated in the programmes held during the week since September providing free advice and information to the public.
The Free State Department of Health has an extensive network of service points where patients can be treated in the various fields of physiotherapy. The physiotherapy programme in public health facilities is alive and well. Currently we have 48 full time physiotherapy posts and continue to source staff in this much-needed category. There are also 27 community services physiotherapists who are mainly based at the primary health care level providing services at clinics, community health centres and district hospitals. This has improved access to services as assistance is also provided at old age homes and schools and home visits are also done. At primary level the focus is group classes for stroke patients, hypertension, lower back problems, for children suffering from cerebral palsy and their carers and chest conditions amongst others.
Twenty-four-hour services are also rendered at secondary hospital level. The focus in the hospitals falls more on treatment of patients from specialised units where rehabilitation treatment is part of their healing process. As I have mentioned earlier, the impact of physiotherapy services on the patient is a positive intervention as in most cases it contributes towards reducing the financial burden on a patient as the patient becomes more independent.
As part of our efforts to improve and encourage healthy lifestyles, the Department has initiated a project focussing on obesity project in six schools, which took part in the “Youth Risk Behaviour Survey” in 2002. Healthy lifestyles with physical activities in particular are emphasised and support groups for these activities have been formed in three of the schools. The project is being rolled out to others schools and although still in its development stage has shown that integration of services is essential for the well being of all these scholars and during the back week special emphasis was placed on back care with other activity programs being a long-term project.
Programme Director, this morning we are here to draw attention to the importance of not just looking after one’s own health but to be exposed to information that can prevent serious pain and discomfort in future. Back Week 2005 focuses on ways in which people can avoid back injuries in the work place. The theme for today’s event is Occupational Health, mainly due to the impact of the costs related to the treatment of lower back pain that can be caused by incorrect posture and exposure to unfriendly working conditions.
We want to encourage healthy living and want our citizens to take care of their own health. We often forget to focus on correct methods of pick-up items, bending and using the complete body to our disposal. During this week we wanted to focus the attention on promoting caring for one’s back as many people suffer from back pain and are not treated suitably.
Statistics in the South Africa has shown that lower back pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions by physiotherapists resulting in the largest portion of work absenteeism. At least 80% of the South African workplace suffers from severe discomfort and disability due to the problems that arise from low back pain. Although there are no official figures available on the cost of disability, it is estimated that worker disability in 1999 cost the economy more than R2 billion. At this stage we can assume that it has escalated to over R6 billion.
This year the theme of the Physiotherapy Back Week is ‘The Busy Body’ and our focus is on school children, sedentary workers and the aged. We also focussed on people in management, all health workers and home-based carers.
This morning we will witness several practical demonstrations specifically designed to focus on the office worker, as the vast majority have sedentary jobs. Whether one has a managerial position or one works in a factory, chances are that you spend a large portion of your day sitting. Back pain, after colds and flu, is the main cause of work absenteeism. The largest contributor is a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of exercise.
Ladies and Gentlemen, one of our target audiences with this awareness week was school children who often carry heavy school bags, sit for long periods in class rooms on hard wooden benches, slouch in front of the television at home, being inactive and having bad eating habits. Children from a young age are now being referred for physiotherapy treatment for back problems. A contributing factor is the carrying of heavy school bags containing all their schoolbooks. The schoolbag is usually inappropriately designed, or used as a fashion statement and not worn correctly over both shoulders but rather made to be hung over one shoulder.
Many of our elderly patients complain of stiffness, weak muscles and painful joints. Much of this is due to wear and tear of joints associated with aging and aggravated by trauma or poor posture. Many of these problems can be alleviated by participation in organised exercise programmes. During this week we’ve paid special attention to the elderly at old age homes and the clinics.
Ladies and gentlemen, physiotherapy staff of the department has worked hard during this week to provide free information and advice and a toll-free line is also available for people with specific back queries. The number to call is 0800 001 870 and is available on the pamphlets in the foyer.
Lastly, I want to appeal to learners and students planning their future studies and a career to consider studying to become a physiotherapist. There are 10 bursaries available each year for potential students and I invite learners to apply. Let me leave you with this thought, exercise every day helps keep back pain at bay. An apple a day may be more appealing, but taken with exercise, it may help chronic back pain sufferers control symptoms and do their activities with greater ease.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
12 September 2005
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