FG moves to standardise postgraduate physiotherapy training

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria has initiated the standardization of postgraduate clinical specialization in physiotherapy. This effort includes 46 practitioners undergoing specialized training in manual therapy, in partnership with the Manual Therapy Foundation of India and the Foundation for Empowering Persons with Disabilities.

The goal is to bolster rehabilitation services nationwide and foster the growth of a network of trainers who will disseminate specialized skills to physiotherapists across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Prof. Rufai Ahmad, the Registrar and CEO of the MRTB, announced this during a train-the-trainers workshop in Abuja.

This initiative aligns with the board's broader efforts to establish regulated and coordinated postgraduate clinical specialization in physiotherapy and other medical rehabilitation fields in Nigeria. Although standards for undergraduate physiotherapy training have been developed, a corresponding framework for postgraduate clinical specialization has been lacking until recently.

The board has drafted a standard for postgraduate clinical specialization, aimed at enhancing professional competence and ensuring practitioners acquire the necessary expertise to deliver quality healthcare. Over 10,000 physiotherapists have been registered since the practice was regulated. The initiative emerged from consultations with stakeholders, identifying areas where Nigerian physiotherapists needed additional expertise.

International collaboration was facilitated by the Foundation for Empowering Persons with Disabilities, which helped establish a partnership with the Manual Therapy Foundation of India, led by its president, Prof. Umasankar Mohanty. Manual therapy, a crucial aspect of physiotherapy, focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of movement-related disorders, rather than merely managing symptoms.

The training aims to produce trainers from various states who will subsequently replicate this knowledge and skills among other practitioners, gradually expanding access to specialized training and enhancing rehabilitation services beyond major cities. The initiative is timely, as Nigeria implements the World Health Organisation's Rehabilitation 2030 initiative, which seeks to strengthen rehabilitation services and integrate them into health systems.

Prof. Umasankar Mohanty, who trained over 40,000 physiotherapists globally, expressed his delight at conducting the training in Nigeria, describing it as his first professional training engagement in an African country. He emphasized the importance of professional skills development in improving healthcare delivery and ensuring patients receive quality treatment, regardless of their location.

The training covered practical techniques for addressing mechanical problems affecting the spine, joints, and muscles, particularly in light of the increased prevalence of neck pain, back pain, joint issues, and muscle disorders following the COVID-19 pandemic.