At a time when unemployment is on the rise due to the pandemic, Rotary Club of Salt Lake Central has certified 19 young girls in physiotherapy in the hope that they be self-employed.

The classes were held over four months last winter and the convocation that took place in September was to have taken place in April. The course was conducted in association with Workshop for the Blind in LB Block, which was the venue of the classes as well as the convocation.

The workshop was conducted by senior physiotherapists and physicians and taught the participants about the various muscle groups, nerves and organs in the body, mobility exercises for those with joint pains, frozen shoulder, chronic neck pain etc.

“We were also taught massaging and the use of blood pressure monitors, oxygen cylinders etc,” said Swapna Pradhan, who was teaching at a Montessori till before the lockdown.

Nirupama Ghosh, a resident of Duttabad, has already taken charge of a few patients in Salt Lake. “One of them is a 76-year-old lady who couldn’t even lift her leg when I joined. She’s much better after my therapy,” said the youth who has completed her Higher Secondary exams and would tutor students before making the job switch. “Schooling is not enough. One needs vocational courses like this to land jobs.”

One of the girls being handed a certificate

The girls also got many a practical tip from the chief guest at the event.

“I am a psychiatrist and can prescribe medicines. But alongside my services patients need psychologists for counselling. It’s teamwork. Similarly, your job as physiotherapists is important for orthopedics,” said Kedar Banerjee, a resident of AL Block in New Town.

He asked them to prepare visiting cards. “No need for anything fancy, take plain print outs of your name, profession and phone number and give doctors when you meet them. They may laugh at your face saying four months is not enough to become a physiotherapist, but take it up as a challenge,” said Banerjee. “Speak to senior physiotherapists and ask to become their assistants. You will gain experience and confidence. And in case a doctor does recommend you, call him up every week to share the status of the patients. The doctor will remember you and refer more patients to you.”

The psychiatrist also anticipated taunts from neighbours. “They’ll ridicule your profession, comparing you to their IT sector-employed children but don’t you believe them. You are now health workers and deserve more respect than anyone,” assured Banerjee, adding that while it would not be possible to maintain distancing with patients, they should be careful and follow the other Covid safety norms.

Arindam Nandy, a Rotarian who was compering the event, said this was the first time that they conducted such a camp, deviating from tailoring, beautician and similar time-tested vocational courses.