08/10/2020
World Podiatry day 🦶.
“40 sena ilu, il-professjoni tagħna kienet magħrufa biss għal trattamenti tal-kallijiet u qtugħ ta’ dwiefer patoloġiċi (morda). Huwa minnu li mal-210,000 pazjent fis-sena jiġu trattati għal dawn it-tip ta’ kundizzjonijiet li huma ta’ skumdita’ għall-pazjent innifsu u f’ċertu każi jistgħu jkunu kawża ta’ problemi akbar. 40 sena wara? Evolvejna, speċjalizzajna, żidna t-tagħrif u tħarriġna. Konna proattivi u ħafna mill-podjatri komplew jistudjaw u jaċċellaw anki b’dottorati f’dan is-settur. Tajna kontribut kbir fir-riċerka kemm lokalment u anki barra minn xtutna. Ħdejn pajjiżi oħra, għamilna passi ta’ ġgant u sodisfatti b’dak li rnexxielna u qed jirnexxilna nagħmlu f’dan il-qasam.
Hija professjoni li tagħtina sodisfazzjonijiet kbar. Tara pazjent muġugħ dieħel izappap minħabba xi difer fil-laħam jew kallu fil-fond u bl-intervent tiegħek joħroġ jimxi aħjar. Tiltaqa’ ma’ pazjenti li wara diversi xhur ta’ trattament minħabba feriti tad-dijabete, jiġu għandek u jgħidulek: ‘Bis-saħħa tiegħek, saqajja ma ġietx amputata.’ Meta tara ġenituri jew ‘guardians’ jieħdu interess fis-saħħa tas-sieq ta’ wliedhom u jġibuhom għal check up regolari daqs check ups oħra li jagħmlu ma’ professjonisti oħrajn. Ikun ta’ sodisfazzjon meta nżuru nies li huma ‘house bound’ u ttaffilhom ftit mill-uġigħ biex b'hekk ikunu iktar dipendenti fuq saqajhom. Meta tara pazjenti b’diformita’ f’saqajhom, imbagħad jinħadmulhom suletti apposta u tibda tara l-miljorament istantanju. Dawk huma fost il-ħafna sodisfazzjonijiet li ttina din il-professjoni. Il-kura tas-saqajn hija estiża.
Nispeċjalizzaw f’ħafna oqsma u wieħed se jsib kliniċi li jaħdmu ma’ pazjenti varji, kliniċi li jispeċjalizzaw fuq sports injuries u persuni li għandhom id-dijabete’, fost oħrajn. Is-servizz li noffru hu wiesa’ fosthom mal-Forzi Armati ta’ Malta, servizzi ta’ screening ġewwa l-iskejjel u servizzi ma’ tim ta konsulenti fil-qasam tal-ortopedija, rewmatolġija u anke saħansitra fil-qasam ta’ problemi relatati ma’ ċirkulazzjoni…il-lista ta’ servizzi tibqa’ sejra... F’Malta għandna madwar 100 podjatra li jaħdmu f’diversi oqsma ta’ saħħa u edukazzjoni. L-irwol tal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Podjatri ta’ Malta huwa li tkompli ssaħħaħ u tressaq fil-viċin setturi tal-podjatri bħall-Fakulta’ tal-Podjajtrija ġewwa l-Universita’, is-settur tal-kura primarja u anke dik privata biex flimkien intejbu u nġeddu t-tagħrif u t-tagħlim biex b’hekk inkunu minn tal-ewwel fil-kura tal-Podjatrija.
Nemmnu li biex tkun professjonist mhux biss irid ikollok bażi soda ta’ tagħlim imma li tagħraf li din hija ‘a caring profession’ u klijent quddiemek qed jafda s-saħħa ta’ saqajh f’idejk. Nemmnu li hemm futur isbaħ milli għandna. Illum jum dinji tal-Podjatrija...ftakar li jekk juġgħek saqajk, juġgħek ġismek kollu. Ħu ħsiebhom.”
- Ivan Farrugia, President tal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Podjatrija f’Malta (Association of Podiatrists of Malta - APM)
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"40 years ago our profession was only recognized for the treatment of calluses and the clipping of pathological nails. It is true that around 210,000 patients a year are treated for these conditions that are very uncomfortable and in some cases can be the cause of more serious problems. 40 years later? We have evolved, specialized, grown in knowledge and training. We were very active and a large number of podiatrists pursued their studies and even obtained doctorates in this sector. We contributed greatly in research both locally and abroad. When compared to other countries we have made huge steps and we are satisfied with what we have done and are still doing in this field.
It is a profession that gives great satisfaction. You encounter patients who are in pain and limping on account of some nail-biting into their toe or a deep callus and with your help they improve their walking. You meet patients who after several months of treatment for diabetic wounds come to you and say: "Thanks to you my leg was not amputated. You encounter parents and guardians who take an interest in the health of the feet of their children and bring them along for regular check-ups just as they do with other professionals. We are filled with pride when we visit people who are housebound and we manage to calm their pain and help them be more independent. When you see patients with foot deformities, and we then provide them with the appropriate insoles and see an instantaneous improvement. These are just a few of the gratifications that this profession gives us. Footcare is very extensive.
We specialize in a number of sectors and there are clinics working with various patients specializing in sports injuries, diabetes and other areas. The services we offer are extensive including that with the Armed Forces of Malta, school screening and a service in conjunction with a team of orthopedic consultants, rheumatologists and even those related to circulatory problems...the list is never-ending. There are approximately 100 podiatrists working in various health departments and in education. The role of the Association of Podiatrists of Malta is to continue strengthening and increasing the co-operation between different podiatric sectors like the Faculty of Podiatry at the University of Malta, primary healthcare and that in the private sector so that together we can improve and renew knowledge and teaching so that we are at the forefront in Podiatric care.
We believe that to be a professional you not only need a solid knowledge base but the awareness that this is a caring profession and that the client you meet is trusting you with the health of their feet. We believe that a brighter future awaits us. Today is World Podiatry Day....remember that if your feet hurt, your whole body will suffer. Take care of them." - Ivan Farrugia, President of the Association of Podiatrists of Malta - APM
