By Martina Lukin for ReLAB-HS
In February 2024, 21 rehabilitation professionals from two provinces of Pakistan (Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) completed the ReLAB-HS clinical skills training program on the topic, “Rehabilitation in the Community Setting.” The program covered a wide range of topics related to the benefits of exercise and approaches to integrating more opportunities for physical activity into clinical practice and the community setting.
The 14-week program, the second of its kind in Pakistan, was a hybrid learning experience—with participants required to complete a series of online courses on Physiopedia Plus, attend online mentoring sessions, engage in discussions on the Rehabilitation Community Platform, and attend a three-day in-person training hosted by Ziauddin University in Sindh. Participants benefitted from the guidance of both local and international mentors, including Neelum Zehra, an occupational therapist (Ziauddin University), Dr. Sabina Khan, a women’s health specialist and occupational therapist (University of St. Augustine, USA), and Dr. Candace Vermaak, a biokineticist (Stellenbosch University, South Africa).
The training exposed the participants—physiotherapists, occupational therapists, prosthetists/orthotists, a speech and language pathologist, and a rehabilitation physician—to various group exercise programs and other government programs benefiting community members. It also offered them a rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with like-minded professionals from a neighboring province and discuss their various experiences and management approaches.
Maha Siddiqui, a physiotherapist and senior lecturer at Ziauddin University, was among the participants in this innovative training program. Inspired by Candace Vermaak’s mentoring session, Maha collaborated with other participants and faculty members at Ziauddin College of Physical and Occupational Therapy, including the college principal, Ms. Quratulain Adnan, and her dedicated team, to initiate a project to promote physical activity and exercise among faculty and students at the university.
“We want to encourage physical activity among students and faculty, making it a sustainable habit,” Maha shared.
The project, “Let’s Get Fit Together,” began as a pilot initiative involving final-year students and faculty at Ziauddin University. It aimed to foster a culture of fitness and well-being across the university’s three campuses through high-intensity fitness programs and yoga sessions to accommodate varying fitness levels.
Maha and her team gave a lot of consideration to reach and inclusivity. “We conducted sessions across three campuses, involving a total of 100 participants, including both students and faculty…For those not fit for high-intensity programs, we launched a yoga program… It was important to us to include everyone and promote physical activity in any form.”
The sessions, led by volunteer faculty members, were held daily for one week and used varying themes to keep participants motivated and excited to come back. Impact was measured through pre- and post-session assessments, including heart rate, blood pressure, and a questionnaire about participants’ experiences. Men and women were encouraged to complete classes together and follow the same routines.
“We saw that when women are pushed to similar limits, they have the potential to outperform men,” Maha and her team observed.
Despite some dropouts, the project saw enthusiastic participation and received positive feedback, leading to its continuation with regular sessions led by volunteer faculty members. These sessions, offered free of charge to both students and faculty, are held three times a week.
“The ultimate goal is to integrate fitness into daily life and expand the initiative to the community and government level,” said Maha.
Looking ahead, the project aims to expand beyond the university. By introducing the program into the community and proposing it to governing bodies, Maha and the other volunteers aim to promote the importance of physical activity and advocate for establishing it as a mandatory component of education.
The success of “Let’s Get Fit Together” is a testament to the impact of the clinical skills training program supported by ReLAB-HS through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding. Through the initiative of Maha Siddiqui and the collaborative efforts of the management team at the Ziauddin College of Physical and Occupational Therapy, the successful execution of the program has not only improved the fitness and well-being of participants at Ziauddin University but has set the stage for broader community engagement and sustainable health practices.
Maha shares all the due credit with her incredible fellow trainers and the management of Ziauddin College of Physical and Occupational Therapy.