A statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday to mark the ‘Spinal Cord Injury Day’ said the availability of a rehab centre would empower SCI persons to live independent and productive lives.
According to the statement, September 5, is the day set aside by the International Spinal Cord Society, to highlight the most current issues of concern for SCI individuals.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘Access to SCI services – A life less complicated.’
The statement read, “We recall, with a deep sense of appreciation, that as the Governor of Lagos State, the President gave us a fixed portion of his monthly salary and also assisted SCIAN in some landscaping and perimeter fencing.
“Now as the President, and with access to more resources, we call on the president to graciously consider the construction of our rehab complex as a major intervention in the health sector.
“This will undoubtedly empower SCI persons to live an independent and productive life and thus contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country.”
According to the statement, lack of access to rehabilitation centres made many SCI persons rot away at home after leaving the hospital, adding that there are no public and affordable rehabilitation centres to address their physical and mental health challenges.
“Many decades after, SCIAN was allocated a piece of land to build a Rehabilitation Centre in Lagos, we have been unable to either put up the building or procure the necessary equipment.
“The lack of access to rehabilitation has seriously affected our level of functionality, thus making life quite difficult and complicated for us. Many spinal cord injured persons rot away at home after leaving the hospital as there is no public and affordable rehabilitation centre to address their physical and mental health challenges,” it read.
