By: Oriaku Angela, Ugwu Christy & Ejiofor Obiora.

UNTH NEWS ONLINE

The Department of Physiotherapy Services, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, has joined other health institutions across the globe to celebrate this year’s “World Physiotherapy Day.” The event was marked on September 9, 2025, at the hospital with the theme: “Healthy Ageing, Focusing on Preventing Falls in Adult Individuals.”

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, represented by the acting Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr. Charles Nonyelu, appreciated the department for the services they render and for organizing the event, assuring them of every support needed for them to move forward and bring UNTH to an enviable height. He further advised that it is essential to apply every form of physiotherapy not only to the elderly but to everyone to prevent health burdens.

In her welcome address, the Director of Physiotherapy Services/HOD, Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Obiekwe, said the World Physiotherapy Day is an annual celebration designed to showcase the peculiar roles of physiotherapy and physiotherapists in human health, wellbeing, development, and healthcare delivery across the lifespan. According to Dr. Obiekwe, the theme for this year is “Healthy Ageing, With Specific Focus On Preventing Frailty and Falls Among Adult Individuals.” This theme couldn’t have come at a better time, with the unprecedented increase in the population of older persons globally. Granted that Africa is not yet experiencing as much rise as other regions of the world, it is pertinent to note that Nigeria has the highest population of older individuals in Africa and ranks 19th in the world.

The United Nations has designated the period of 2021-2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing, focusing on improving the well-being of older adults, their families, and the communities in which they live. Healthy ageing is defined by the World Health Organization (2025) as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. Furthermore, she said frailty is a condition of diminished physiological reserve and increased susceptibility to a wide array of adverse health outcomes. Some manifestations of frailty include exhaustion, weakness, slowness, physical inactivity, and weight loss. Falls in older adults can have very serious, life-threatening, or life-altering consequences, leading to death, disability, or reduced quality of life. It is one of the main causes of disability and death among this population and the leading cause of injury-related death.

In an interview with UNTHNEWS Online, Dr. Obiekwe expressed satisfaction over this year’s event, describing that it was celebrated with different activities, having members of the Hospital Management and the Hospital Community celebrating with them. Her message of hope assured that everything possible would be done to make the aging years of elderly people better and smarter.

The chairman of the occasion, His Royal Highness Igwe Comrade Chinedu Nya Nwobodo (JP), Ezeudo III of Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, a notable union leader, encouraged Nigerian Labour Union leaders in the hospital to work with management to introduce quality controls. Management is to undertake their new role of winning workers’ cooperation, without which productivity could not increase. Strict laws and hard talks alone could not achieve this. He pleaded with the UNTH Management to carry the union along in whatever decisions they take.

Director of Administration Dr. Mrs. Uche Obi, in attendance, described Dr. Mrs. Obiekwe as a “silent achiever and a gentle dove” who has achieved tremendous success. Ms. Umera, a retired staff member of the department and a renowned physiotherapist, commended Dr. Mrs. Obiekwe for her countless efforts in the department. She said that even while she was a student, they had seen the potential in her—so dedicated, diligent, resilient, an encourager, and an achiever.

The event attracted many dignitaries, including the Enugu State Governor, represented by the Technical Assistant on Special Duty, Chief Boniface Onovo, from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports; members of UNTH Management; Chairman Nkanu West, Hon. John Ogbodo; and President General Ozalla Development Union, Mr. Obiora Okwuibe.

Commemorations of this year’s event were loaded with different activities for the department, ranging from football matches, awareness walks, health outreaches, official launch of the UNTH PhysioFit Fitness Program, Physio-dance, award presentations to coaches of inter-departmental football tofundraising for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the UNTH PhysioFit Fitness Club. These facilities include 2 units of treadmills, 1 unit of multi-gym equipment, 2 units of heavyweight dumbbells, and 2 units of core exercisers.

Fitness Dance by the Staff of the department