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 UNIV. OF FL Lli. 
 POCU ^NTS DEPT, 
 
 
 U.S. 9€P0«1T0RY 
 
 T^r +SDoe Ccyr-^^f^ T?<c5^r^ 
 Vfene^u^o c!:i*acl Trie 
 
 The governments of the Philippines in the Far East and Venezuela in Latin 
 America have asked the Peace Corps to send Volunteer occupational therapists 
 to help ti^in host country therapists and assist in launching a program of 
 rehabilitation in the provinces. These programs, which challenge both pro- 
 fessional and human skills, are scheduled to enter training in February. 
 Applications for either program should be submitted no later than January 1. 
 Both programs are described in 
 more detail on the following pages. 
 
 '■"^.^j'^ 
 
 Patient with Hansen's Disease 
 shells corn with hand sheller. 
 When he leaves the colony, he 
 must farm effectively to live. 
 
 Volunteer in Latin America helps a 
 patient make a broom of locally 
 available material. 
 (Photos by Dan Goldsmith) 
 
VENEZUELA 
 
 The government of Venezuela has requested Volunteer occupational therapists 
 to help launch a nation-wide rehabilitation program there. The regional 
 rehabilitation centers to which Volunteers will be assigned have never had 
 occupational therapists and the need is acute. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM Venezuela's general rehabilitation program was begun 
 in 1963 with a detailed survey by the Pan American Health Organization. A 
 separate Division of Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Health in Caracas 
 has conducted a program of rehabilitation for physically handicapped children, 
 especially those attacked by infantile paralysis. This hospital has a 
 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service which works toward the evalu- 
 ation and treatment of the physically handicapped. 
 
 JOB DESCRIPTION Each Volunteer occupational therapist, along with a physical 
 therapist, will be assigned to a regional rehabilitation center or to a 
 center in Caracas, the capital. In addition to patient care under the direc- 
 tion of the physiatrist, each will participate directly in the training of 
 the rehabilitation aides (orderlies) and the visiting nurses (vocational 
 nurses). 
 
 Volunteers assigned to the regional rehabilitation centers will divide 
 their time between the regional center and outlying rural clinics, where 
 they will supervise the training of auxiliary personnel in home rehabilita- 
 tion procedures as well as participate in the orientation of rural physicians 
 to rehabilitation methods. Those in Caracas will devote part of their time 
 to work in the Hospital Orthopedico. Work will include the rehabilitation of 
 
patients with Hansen's Disease as well as the problems more commonly found 
 in the United States. In summary, occupational therapists will: 
 
 1. Evaluate the occupational capacities of handicapped persons. 
 
 2. Retrain the handicapped. 
 
 3. Train occupational therapy aides. 
 
 k. Participate in disability evaluations. 
 
 5. Participate in the planning and development of the rehabilitation 
 program as a member of the rehabilitation team. 
 
 6. Maintain contact with the Ministries of labor and Education to 
 coordinate their involvement in this program. 
 
 ABOUT VEMEZUEIA Venezuela is a country somewhat larger than Texas, with a 
 population of over seven million. It is located on the northern coast of 
 South America and enjoys a mild, springlike climate year round with only 
 slight changes in temperature. Venezuela's wealth of petroleum and other 
 resources has produced the highest rate of economic growth and per capita 
 income in Latin America. But the high national income is distributed un- 
 evenly and several million persons are living under conditions of extreme 
 poverty . 
 
 PHILIPPIMES 
 
 The occupational therapy program in the Philippines is in its infancy. 
 Volunteers will help to set up programs in hospitals and train professional 
 therapists within these progrmns . 
 
 HISTORY OF OCCUPATIOML THERAPY IN THE PHILIPPINES The whole concept of 
 therapy, or rehabilitation, is just beginning to assume significance 
 corresponding to the industrial and economic development of the country. 
 There is currently a minimal number of trained occupational therapists, who 
 are concentrated in the University of the Philippines School of Allied 
 Medical Professions attempting to set up a teaching program to staff hospitals 
 
around the country. The World Healt'. Organization has assigned a full-time 
 consultant who is working on the development of the University curriculum 
 leading to a standard certification and the establishment of small centers 
 providing minimum occupational therapy services. The School of Allied 
 Medical Professions at the University of the Philippines was founded in 
 1962 and is the only school of its kind in the Western Pacific area to offer 
 a baccalaureate course in occupational therapy. 
 
 VOLUNTKKK JOB DESCRIPTION The University of the Philippines is making a 
 great effort to establish programs which will make available trained 
 professional therapists who can 
 provide the various services need- 
 ed at the major hospitals. Vol- 
 unteer occupational therapists 
 will set up and run occupational 
 therapists programs in different 
 hospitals in Manila. Professional 
 students in their fourth year of 
 school (the first three are spent 
 studying basic and specific 
 courses) will spend a ten month 
 internship at the clinical centers 
 where they will benefit from the 
 expert and full-time supervision 
 of the Volunteer. Volunteers will 
 also take part in the teaching 
 program at the University. 
 
 Using stone grinding mill, one 
 of the patients makes aji, a 
 hot pepper sauce, for the 
 hospital kitchen. 
 
In summary. Volunteers will: 
 
 1. Assist in the development of the clinical training centers in 
 Manila and suburbs . 
 
 2. Supervise occupational therapy interns in hospitals. 
 
 3. Assist in other phases of the University training program. 
 
 h. Help to promote the profession of occupational therapy in the 
 Philippines . 
 
 ABOUT THE PHILIPFINE ISIAEDS The Philippines is a group of islands between 
 the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The population is over thirty 
 million, and there are three official languages - Spanish, Tagalog, and 
 English. The climate is tropical and except in the higher mountains, tempera- 
 tures remain warm throughout the year. There is a great variety of food 
 because of the diverse groups of people on the islands, and generous oppor- 
 tunity for sports, because of the island nature of the country and the 
 weather . 
 
 TRAINING All Peace Corps training programs last about three months, during 
 which time Volunteers study the language, customs, culture, and history of 
 the country where they will serve. 
 
 Those occupational therapists going to Venezuela will learn how to best 
 effect rehabilitation in that Latin American country. Those going to the 
 Philippines will similarly leam to apply therapeutic concepts in a 
 Philippine setting. Each group will have a short period of in-country 
 orientation before beginning work. All Volunteers, during training will have 
 courses in American studies, world affairs and physical conditioning. 
 HOW TO APPLY Persons interested in either of the above programs should 
 submit their completed Volunteer Questionnaire (application) before January I5. 
 Questionnaires are available from all Post Offices and from the Medical Skills 
 Desk, Office of Public Affairs, Peace Corps, Washington, D. C. 20525 
 
 AI£0 NEEDED FOR REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN VENEZUEIA AND THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Speech Therapists 
 Brace Makers 
 
 Physical Therapists 
 
Medical Skills Desk 
 Office of Public Affairs 
 PEACE CORPS 
 Washington, D, C. 20525 
 
 GSA DC PC 66- 2373 
 
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 3 1262 08851 7288