Since 2010, October 27th has been set aside as the World Occupational Therapy Day. The intent is to increase the awareness of the unique contribution to health and well-being.
Occupational therapy (OT) is an allied health profession that involves the therapeutic use of everyday activities, to treat the physical, mental, developmental, and emotional ailments that impact an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks.
“Occupations” are what people want to, need to, or are expected to do either as individuals, groups or a community which are affected in many disabling conditions.
An Occupational Therapist is a practitioner who uses therapeutic techniques to improve, rehabilitate, or maintain a patient’s ability to perform everyday activities. This implies that occupational therapists are responsible for helping patients develop, recover, improve from injury as well as maintain the skills needed to execute daily activities.
Areas of practice in O.T include but not limited to, Geriatrics, Mental health, Paediatrics, Physical rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation, splinting and assistive devices, environmental modification, low vision, and school systems.
In resonance with the theme for this year “Opportunity + Choice = Justice, the Occupational therapy community in University of Benin Teaching Hospital once again reiterate its committed to creating opportunities through its services that inform the choices people make in their daily life activities irrespective of their living condition thereby fostering occupational justice which is a form of social justice.
More importantly, it seeks to remind the public that UBTH provides specialized training through the School of Occupational Therapy that equips graduates with opportunities to impact their world.
It is believed that as the whole world celebrates this noble profession today, the general public will be better empowered to create a more inclusive society with equitable opportunities especially for individuals living with disabilities.
Happy World Occupational Therapy Day.
Long live the Occupational Therapy Profession.!!
