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Congrès WOHO 2005 |
| 11-01-05 |
 OsteopathyA historical world congress in a highly symbolic place |
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By Guy Roulier D.O. France
The first congress of the World organisation Woho took place in Paris on the 8th January 2005 in the prestigious Palais du Luxembourg, the seat of the French Senate. 167 participants took part in this historical meeting. Coming from 16 different countries, from Europe, Australia, the United States, Canada, they all came individually to show their will to unite in the objective of creating a worldwide movement in favour of our marvellous branch of therapy. This first congress was undoubtedly a great success in the opening under favourable circomstances of a new era for contemporary osteopathy, in phase with the need for sustainable health at international level. Osteopathy will soon be able to find the place it deserves within the great movement of sustainable development in the field of health, initiated by the Rio summit in 1992 in its Agenda 21 and confirmed by the Earth Summit of Johannesburg in 2002, the only sustainable solution linking the health of the Earth and the health of man. Personnal impressions 
The atmosphere is calm though solemn, a magical osmosis operates between these osteopaths coming from all over the world, united by the strength of their vocation, their common views, the respect of differences, the wish to work for man, simply and unselfishly.
In his opening speech, our friend and organiser Bruno Ducoux (picture), stressed the fact that this world congress of Woho, the first ever, was taking place in a highly symbolic place, the seat of the French Senate, where a decisive law recognising the qualification of osteopaths in France was voted with near unanimity on the 4th of March 2002, thus ending thirty years of witch hunt and legal actions against illegal exercise of the medical profession, of which French osteopaths suffered until the law was voted. To day, it belongs to history. France can now make up for the lost years by integrating osteopaths within the health professions and regulating the exercise of osteopathy. Bruno Ducoux reminded us that the UK had recognised osteopaths more than 10 years ago. The climax came with Viola Fryman's contribution. Her professionalism, kindness, serenity, charisma and open mind offer an example to be followed by all osteopaths. For me, the main impression of this day on top of the quality of the contributions was the true harmony and the feeling of belonging to the same family , of communicating, of meeting old friends and new ones, happy to be together working on useful projects for mankind in a spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity, a motto dear to our heart and inscribed on the façade of the venerable institution welcoming us. The osteopaths of the world taught a lesson of good behaviour to hegemonic groups who have not yet understood or refuse to understand, through interest or pride, that it is necessary to be selfless in order to promote the cause we are fighting for. To be followed…Interviews…Thoughts for the future… |