A new faculty of physical therapy at Scutari in Albania thanks to Madonna del Grappa http://www.gonews.it/articolo_67207_nuova-facolt-fisioterapia-Scutari-Albania-grazie-allOpera-Madonnina-Grappa.html
Don Carlo Zaccaro has worked for years with this goal and a few days ago have graduated the first 16 Albanian boys thanks to the University of Florence
29/10/2010 - 16:00 - Source: Press Office Madonna del Grappa
October 21 2010 were delivered with a solemn ceremony held in the Central Library of the University of Shkodra, Albania, the first 16 degrees in physical therapy at a university achievements of the Albanian state.
This solemn moment was significant and important first step of a process begun at least in 2002 when Don Carlo Zaccaro, Opera del Grappa Madonna of Divine Providence in Florence, clearly expressed the strong desire to establish a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy at the University of Shkodra, considering the absolute need for such a professional for many patients, especially children, who need of rehabilitation.
With this intention he asked the prof. Giuseppe Gandolfo, Professor at La Sapienza University of Rome, to accompany him on a visit to the School of Nursing Elena Gjiga "at Elbasan, known for its seriousness in training young Albanians nurses.
Don Carlo Zaccaro and prof. Gandolfo visited this establishment, supported by the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne Antide, which began with a long journey of sharing, which led to the prof. Gandolfo and other Italian teachers to work in this school, which subsequently became a detached University Polo "Our Lady of Good Counsel, and then established a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
In those early years, these experiences and many meetings at the diplomatic level and university, Don Zaccaro has tried every possible way to activate the Degree Course in Physiotherapy, committing the Society of Florence to build a structure capable of allowing business lectures and practical training, as well as a boarding house for young students of the course, do not live in Shkodra.
In 2006, he invited Professor. Gandolfo to prepare a draft to be submitted, as Opera Madonna del Grappa, in the Tuscany Region for the activation of the Course a degree of Scutari, with the full collaboration of the Florence University.
Professor. Gianfranco Gensini, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Florence, joined the project, which was approved by the Region of Tuscany and that allowed the activation of the Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy.
To this end, the prof. Giulio Masotti, President of the Degree Course in Physiotherapy at the University of Florence, was appointed as the Representative of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Florence for relations with the University of Shkodra and Coordinator of the new degree course.
In this first phase, prof. Mason, prof. Gandolfo, Dr. Baccini, physiotherapist lecturer at the Master of Science in Physiotherapy at the University of Florence, and Mrs. Ross Del Bianco, Secretary of Education degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Florence, began with the continued support of Don Carlo Zaccaro, meetings with the academic authorities of the University of Shkodra, in particular with the prof. Hoti, Rector of the University.
All this preparatory work has allowed, in the academic year 2007-2008, beginning the first year of the new degree course in Physiotherapy. Its realization participated as faculty, staff of the University of Florence and other Italian universities, staff of the National Health Service of Florence and Forli, and Albanian teachers.
Young people have attended both the headquarters and made available to the Opera Madonna del Grappa, is the headquarters of the Department of Nursing, University of Shkodra. In recent years, every year has started a new course, and so the academic year 2009-2010 all three years, I-II.-III, were both active.
At the same time, from the beginning has been activated boarding school, home 16-18 young people not resident in Scutari, followed by Sister Dukata Radoje, professor of the course and, in particular, handles relations between the Albanian and Italian teachers teachers.
At the end of Year 3 young people this year have gone for a month in Italy, at the facilities of Physiotherapy, University of Florence, Hotel Opera Madonna del Grappa, both in Forlì, where Dr. Germano Pestelli, professor of the course, has made available the facilities of physiotherapy which is responsible for this Italian experience of young graduates.
The preparation of the thesis was made possible thanks to the creation, within the educational structure of the Opera Madonna del Grappa, a computer room, from which, in collaboration with the University of Florence and the valuable experience of prof. Di Bari, you can connect with all major medical journals and physiotherapy.
Young people are having all of the theses prepared a very specific purpose: to make available in the Albanian language a number of clinical rating scales, and widely used throughout the world, for accurate diagnosis and precise evaluation the course of patients undergoing physiotherapy. Therefore, through the system of double translation (from original language, Italian or English into Albanian, and Albanian language in the original), controlled by experts at the end, they have abided validated versions of the main rating scales physiotherapy, for the most common diseases, such as stroke, cerebral palsy children, Parkinson's disease and others.
When all the arguments are completed, will be available for Albanian doctors and physical therapists, this unique text, indispensable means of assessing patients to be treated with physiotherapy.
The solemn proclamation of the first graduates of physical therapy in a State University participated in the Albanian different personalities, such as prof. Thesis , Rector of the University of Florence, prof. Gensini , Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Florence, prof. Dr. Artan Haxhi , Rector of the University of Shkodra, the Dean of Faculty of Science, University of Shkodra Prof. Dr. Adem BEKTESHI (it belongs to the Department of Health Professions), the Vice- Minister for Education of the Albanian Government, the prof. Hoti, former Rector of the University of Shkodra, the prof. Colombi, President of the Region of Shkodra, Don Course Guicciardini Corsi Salviati, Chairman of the Work of Divine Providence Madonna del Grappa, Vice-Minister Dr. Luigi De the Italian Embassy in Albania, prof. Di Bari , representing prof. Mason, who was absent for family reasons, other teachers of Italian and Albanian Degree in Physiotherapy.
All remembered the example of Don Carlo Zaccaro, his foresight in conceiving this project and his persistence in wanting to achieve, in spite of all possible difficulties. E 'was underlined by the Italian academic Albanians and the importance of this new profession in Albania, the active participation of young graduates from the degree course, learning the Italian language, the participation of the training period in Italy, to the elaboration of the thesis.
Achieving this milestone is only a first step in a process of formation and assistance, thanks to the collaboration between the Opera Madonna del Grappa in Florence, the University of Florence and the Tuscany region, can lead more fruits, continuing the process of formation of these new graduates, their preparation level of care and university level, and strengthening of existing structures physiotherapy in Scutari or nearby villages, but in need of upgrading facilities and dedicated staff.
E 'is therefore essential that all who can contribute to this important educational project to give their support and assistance, which, however small, is "that drop without which the ocean would be poorer" (Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
