SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF POST POLIO CLINICAL PRACTISE WORKSHOPS

 
Ten health professionals took part in the successful launch of District 9685’s pilot series of Late Effects of Polio Workshops at Royal Rehab, Ryde, on Thursday, November 19.
 
Governor Gina Growden and her District team have partnered with Polio Australia to get the historic program off the ground.
 
The next Workshop is scheduled for December 8 at ARC Health, St Leonards, with eight further Workshops planned over the next five months, culminating at Gosford on April 26. 
 
Registrants who participated in Thursday’s historic event included physiotherapists, nurses, an occupational therapist and a massage therapist.
 
Workshop topics included the history of polio and why there is still a need to vaccinate children in these modern times.
 
The course was prepared by Melissa McCarthy of ARC Health and delivered by physiotherapist Anna Jones.
 
Other topics discussed included –
  • Demystifying Late Effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome.
  • The Aging Polio population.
  • ‘Did you have Polio?’
  • Practical strategies.
  • A late Effects of Polio Case Study and Q and A.
Polio Australia arranged for local Polio survivors to be present and take part in an excellent practical clinical exercise.
 
District 9685 Polio Chairman Bob Aitken welcomed everyone to the workshop on behalf of Governor Gina and emphasized the significance of the occasion.
 
He thanked them for their time and explained that there were an estimated 400,000 polio victims in Australia during the epidemic of the 40’s and 50’s – with as many as 40,000 severe cases, with many of these people now suffering from the Late Effects of Polio (LEoP) or Post Polio Syndrome.
 
“Thanks to Polio Australia, this condition has been identified in recent years and these Workshops are striving to create awareness and provide health professionals with vital treatment knowledge,” he said.
Bob Aitken especially thanked the Polio survivors who made themselves available to assist with the practical session at the Workshop.
 
President Victoria Gouel of Ryde Rotary was also present to extend a warm welcome to everyone – and thanked the participants for taking time to address the challenge of LEoP.
 
The workshop was organized by Assistant Governor Bob Kaye-Smith and Jim Towers – a senior staff member at Royal Rehab.  Bob and Jim are both members of Ryde Rotary.
 
Assistant Governor Noel Cislowski has charge of the second Workshop at ARC Health on December 8 – and is pleased to advise that this event is already booked out.
 
First Workshop of the New Year will be held at Katoomba on Saturday, February 6, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.  AG Bob Kaye-Smith is again in charge and can be contact at 0411 263 294.
 
   
 
Polio Australia volunteers (from left) Sue Ellis, Gillian Thomas, Peter Garde (carer/partner) and Anna Jones from ARC Health.
  
   
  A new learning experience for three interested participants