Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Occupational Therapists’ Association (KOTA) and the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA) jointly celebrated World Occupational Therapy Day with an event in Thiruvananthapuram. Former minister and Kazhakoottam MLA Kadakampally Surendran inaugurated the function, with Kerala State Allied and Healthcare Council Chairperson M. Abdunnasir as the chief guest.

A highlight of the event was the launch of the KOTA Community Mobile App, a centralised digital platform designed to connect occupational therapists in Kerala, foster collaboration, and improve service accessibility. The app, accessible to both professionals and the public, provides information on where occupational therapists practice in government and private sectors, membership details, a community forum, and resources on workshops and occupational therapy topics.

This year’s celebration was themed “Occupational Therapy in Action,” emphasising public awareness and the significance of the field in society. In his speech, Kadakampally Surendran lauded Kerala’s healthcare achievements while acknowledging the need for greater awareness about occupational therapy’s role in treating conditions like Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and ADHD.

Dr Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry, AIOTA Honorary Secretary, noted the importance of this year’s event, coinciding with the recent introduction of a unified national syllabus and curriculum for occupational therapy—a significant milestone for the field in India.

The ceremony also recognised top performers in occupational therapy, including this year’s university rank holders. Students from institutions like the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NIPMR), and KMCT College of Allied Health Sciences staged various cultural programs.

KOTA President Dr Mary Philip, Secretary Dr Smruthy Jose C, AIOTA Honorary Secretary Dr Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry, Organising Chairperson Dr Vinith Dani Joseph, Dr Joseph Bose, Dr Anna Daniel (NIPMR), and Dr Muhammed Shareef (KMCT) were among those present at the event.