Group seeks spinal cord injury policy, financial support for victims

The Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) has called for the establishment of a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) policy and support services for injured persons in the country.

In a statement signed by the Interim President, Abdulwahab Matepo to commemorate International Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness, themed, ‘End violence: Protect Spinal Cord’, SCIAN explained that damages to the spinal cord is aggravated by untrained first responders, lack of immediate medical attention and the absence of rehabilitation facilities.

The association noted that many Nigerians with spinal cord injuries are victims of road traffic crashes and called for the establishment of a road crash victims fund to provide financial support to those who suffer permanent disabilities to meet medical costs and living expenses.

Abdulwahabemphasised that the absence of an SCI policy and support services is the greatest challenge faced by spinal cord injured persons in Nigeria, adding that the management of SCIs is costly, leading to abandonment, and impoverishment of families and friends.

“Apart from Europe and other developed countries, African countries like Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have such support funds to cushion the challenges faced by their citizens who sustain injuries on the road.

“This could be embedded in the vehicle insurance payments, as well as collections or dues by road transport unions and transferred to the support fund to be managed by relevant stakeholders, including persons with disabilities,” he said.

The association commended the Lagos State government for the allocation of a parcel of land to SCIAN to build a befitting SCI Rehabilitation Centre and called on public-spirited individuals and organisations to support the realisation of the objective. SCIAN noted that rising cases of SCI resulting from violence in all its forms remain a major concern globally more so in Nigeria where terrorists’ activities and banditry is the order of the day.

The association advocated taking simple precautions and being mindful of actions to significantly reduce the risk of SCIs and called on the government and individuals to strive to promote non-violent conflict resolution, support violence prevention programmes, as well as address the menace of non-state actors involved in violent activities.

It also charged Nigerians to wear seatbelts and helmets, practice safe sports and recreational activities, ensure proper fall prevention measures especially in the construction industry, fund research and support services for SCI survivors, amongst other precautions.

“From physical assaults to gunshots, the effects of SCIs – paralysis, loss of sensation and mobility, chronic pain, and respiratory and cardiovascular complications are often irreversible. Other causes of SCIs are road traffic crashes, falls, sports injuries and birth defects,” the association said.