The occupational therapy profession celebrates its fifth National Day today, along with other countries.

Occupational therapy is concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupations. The primary goal is to enable people to participate in everyday activities. Occupational therapists achieve this by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate, by modifying the environment to better support participation.

Occupational therapists work alongside a team of other health professionals including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists and social workers. Occupational therapy is practised in a wide range of settings including hospitals, day centres, homes, workplaces, schools and elderly residences.

The Malta Association of Occupational Therapists (MAOT) was set up in 1985. It is affiliated to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC) and is represented on both these committees.

To mark its National Day, the MAOT has organised a number of activities, including putting up display stands promoting the profession in various hospitals, a blood donation, a social event (fenkata) and has written in the local press.

For more information visit www.maotwbsite.com.