Saweni heads physiotherapy group

HUGH Saweni is the inaugural president of the newly-formed PNG Physiotherapy Association.
Saweni was elected at the first annual general meeting held after the association was launched last Tuesday.
He said other office bearers were vice-president Paul Na’ua, secretary Rhonda Wohemani and treasurer Priya Kartihayan.
Regional representatives are Philip Karaka (Momase), Ruth Kuk (Southern), David Mambu (Highlands), with a New Guinea Islands representative yet to be elected.
Since 2005, the country has 47 registered physio-therapist but before that there were only two nationals – Michael Wilson and Hugh Saweni and two assistant physiotherapists in Wapiam Kala and Judy Aupa’e.
These four were honoured at the AGM for their dedicated development of physiotherapy services in the country.
Saweni acknowledged  those who contributed to physiotherapy development.
He also thanked the partners who supported to establish the physiotherapy school in the country at the Divine Word University in 2002.
He said they included:
lCalang National Services;
lCordaid organisation;
lChristian Blinded Mission International;
lVolunteer Services Overseas;
lNational Department of Health;
lDivine Word University;
n Scholarships PNG Small Grants Programme (AUSAID);
lBrian Bell Group of Companies;
lLeprosy Mission International (PNG); and
l100 Health Consultants.
The principal consultant of 100 Health Consultants, Dr K Susanna Andrias Khobu donated a K2,000 to the newly formed association.
“We worked closely with physiotherapists and hope the formation of this association will go a long way in delivering specialist health care in their field and we look forward to working with the association to enhance this profession,” Khobu said.