UP Manila holds free PT clinics

The College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) of the University of the Philippines Manila is conducting free clinics nationwide this weekend in celebration of its ruby jubilee.

Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and language pathologists who graduated from UP, will go to 18 sites in Batangas, Tarlac, Iloilo, Baguio, Pam—panga, Davao, Dagupan, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bicol and Metro Manila for the activity, billed "Thera-free: Libreng Therapy Para sa Pilipino."

The group will provide rehabilitation services to adults with acute and chronic disabilities, or who have undergone bone surgery, had a stroke, are suffering from spinal cord injury or back pains or have difficulty performing normal activities like standing, walking, eating, writing and holding objects.

Therapists will also treat children with autism, learning disabilities, Downs Syndrome and cerebral palsy.

About 7.4 million Filipinos, including 128,000 children, have disabilities. Only a small percentage avail themselves of therapy services, and few hospitals outside Metro Manila offer such services.

Through the free clinics, the group hopes to increase awareness of how therapy can help people improve their quality of life and consequently, make their services available to more people and provide members opportunities for volunteerism and research.

The clinics will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For inquiries, call Sheila, Lyle or Archie at UP CAMP, 526-7152 or 524-5113.