When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
Natal Chiropractic Students Preparing To Change South Africa
The chiropractic profession has been responsible for many changes worldwide. Most of these changes have been in the area of healthcare. But on a rare occasion, comes the opportunity to be a part of changes that are taking place in other areas.
This is the case with the situation in South Africa.
In 1971, the chiropractic profession gained recognition in South Africa, but at a great price. At that time, the profession was frozen. This prevented any additional chiropractors from practicing in South Africa until September 20, 1985. Fourteen years without the ability to add one member to the profession in South Africa.
In order to help build the profession, chiropractors in South Africa sought to establish their own chiropractic college. This was not only difficult due to the stronghold medicine had at all of the educational institutions, but the chiropractors of South Africa demanded that the institution allow all people of every race and color to be allowed to attend.
In 1987, a six-year program was approved at the Technikon Natal. The Natal Technikon began with a class of 32 students from the over-200 applicants. The student body is multi-racial, including blacks, whites, and other nationalities.
The Natal Technikon is striving to produce chiropractors that will bring chiropractic care to ALL races within the continent of Africa. Most countries in Africa don't even have laws which would allow chiropractors to be licensed. These students are facing an enormous challenge.
The South African government will not support chiropractic education until it has proven itself. This means that the chiropractic profession must pay for the education of these students for the first five years at ever-decreasing amounts.
The 121 chiropractors in South Africa have made tremendous sacrifices in an effort to keep this hope alive. It is time for the chiropractic profession outside of the African continent to get involved. They need the help of their chiropractic brothers and sisters.
To encourage chiropractors worldwide to help, the chiropractors of South Africa are conducting a raffle:
A trip for two to one of the beautiful game reserves in the world; the Mala Mala Game Reserve. This will allow you to see close-up all of the wildlife for which Africa is so famous.
To do your part to help build the chiropractic profession in Africa, all you need to do is donate $100 (all monies will go solely to the college). This nice last-minute, tax-deductible donation will make you eligible for the raffle as well. If you and the other chiropractors will do this for the people of Africa, Africa will soon be a "chiropractic continent."
Just send in your $100 by check made payable to "MPI - African Chiropractic College." Then send it care of: MPI, P.O. Box 6100, Huntington Beach, California, 92615. Or, you can call toll-free 1-800 327-2289 and charge your donation to your Visa or Mastercard.
This will be a Christmas/Hanaka/Humanitarian gift that will keep on giving to millions for centuries to come.
Give as if your profession depended on it, because it does.