Occupational therapy, a crucial aspect of healthcare that caters to individuals across all age groups and diverse health conditions, remains relatively underappreciated in Ghana, despite its significant benefits and affordability.
Amorkor Amartiefio, an entry-level doctoral student specializing in occupational therapy, emphasized the inclusive nature of the profession. “Occupational therapy is for everyone,” she stated, during an interview with Johnnie Hughes on Sunrise Morning Show on 16 February.
Debunking the common misconception that it is solely for individuals with disabilities, she highlighted its relevance for those with chronic conditions.
“Occupational therapy is not just for people with disabilities, it can benefit anyone even if you have a chronic condition. For example, if you have a heart condition one of your symptoms will be shortness of breath, occupational therapist cannot actually put measures in place for energy conservation, so we actually teach you strategies to conserve your energy to be able to do things and participate in your daily activities” she said.
Mirabel Gyasi, serving as the Public Relations Officer for Association of Occupational Therapy in Ghana, shed light on the breadth of the profession. She emphasized its role in addressing ergonomic challenges, which extend to office setups and can impact professionals experiencing pain, particularly in their backs.
Gyasi lamented the lack of widespread awareness about occupational therapy, attributing it to its relative newness in the country’s healthcare landscape “Occupational therapy is highly accepted but people just don’t know about it because it is new, but when people get to know about it, they appreciate the value” she explained.
Gyasi also discussed the availability of occupational therapy services, noting their presence in major hospitals such as UGMC and 37, albeit in limited numbers.
She emphasized the importance of verifying the credentials of healthcare professionals, urging individuals to request and confirm their licenses for credibility and safety reasons, “Every health or medical professional should be able to show their professional licence and we should be able to verify from their licensure body, so if you are unsure of someone, kindly request of for their licence to see the licence and take a picture of it or just the details, and then you can confirm. Unfortunately, the Allied Health Professions Body has not made that information available online” she urged.
Despite being an integral part of the Ghana Health Service or Allied Health sector, Amartiefio acknowledged the challenges associated with replicating private occupational therapy practices due to their uniqueness, “Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession, so they are part of the Ghana Health Service or allied health. There are some people that have private practices, and what we do is every unique”.
Occupational therapy in Ghana offers diverse interventions catering to various health needs, yet struggles with awareness and accessibility issues. As efforts to promote its value continue, bridging the gap between its availability and public knowledge remains paramount to ensuring optimal healthcare delivery for all Ghanaians.
By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi