Lymphoedema Therapy Course Held At Foeldi Clinic

Once again Think Pink Bahrain, through its education fund, sent two healthcare professionals to the Lymphoedema Therapy Certification Course held at Foeldi Clinic, Hinterzarten-Germany. After the success with candidates from both the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC: totally 6) and Bahrain Defense Force Hospital (BDF: totally 2) a further two candidates were chosen from the King Hamad University Hospital’s physiotherapy department. Ms Hayfa Hamood and Ms Haya Salem have just been certified with the internationally recognized Klose Certification, totally 10 such healthcare professionals sponsored in full by the charity.

The course itself is a divided programme that includes 45 hours online home study before being accepted to the course. These modules are graded by the team at Foledi, with regular online quizzes to enable development of fundamental before embarking on training in class. A further 13 days of over 90 hours consisted of classroom instruction at Hinterzarten, Germany. The classes covers anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the lymphatic system, treatment techniques and sequences of manual lymph drainage (Vodder technique), indications and contra-indications of manual lymph drainage and complete decongestive therapy, treatment sequences for primary and secondary lymphoedema, lymphoedema bandaging techniques for upper and lower extremities, lymphoedema exercises, hygienic skin and nail care for patients with lymphoedema, measuring and fitting techniques for lymphoedema support garments, patient evaluation and weekly measuring (circumference and volume), home maintenance and self-treatment for lymphoedema.

Ms Humood thanked Think Pink Bahrain for the opportunity to send both herself and Ms Salem to the course, and expressed her sincere appreciation to all those that sponsored and attended events to support the charities Education Fund. “With the completion of this course, we are able to differentiate between varieties of peripheral oedemas, while planning and perform treatment for patients with either primary or secondary lymphoedema. As we are now Certified Lymphoedema therapists, we will be able to help the breast cancer patients who are referred to our physiotherapy department at KHUH, with the complaints of severe swelling of their upper extremity, skin changes and decreased range of motion. Our new qualifications will enable patients to have good health and self confidents, many of whom have surgical breast cancer treatment.”

“We are encouraged by the candidate’s eagerness to support the local and wider community with their new knowledge. The acknowledgement from KHUH that a fully equipped Lymphoedema Clinic will be established in the new extension of the physiotherapy department further endorses a positive outcome for breast cancer patients, and is very welcomed news. Think Pink Bahrain’s education fund is directed to education, in which evidence based methods are endorsed. Internationally recognised qualifications for Bahrain healthcare professional will only further support breast cancer patients and develop a multidisciplinary approach to support the patient as a whole” Ms Sprakel, Think Pink Bahrain