Spinal cord injury survivors in Kogi state has decried inadequate attention from government and organizations.
As Kogi state joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2024 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Day, some survivors have stressed the need to end violence across the country.
They also called for improved engagement with stakeholders to ensure accessibility across health and educational facilities as well as an end to discrimination.
Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, State Secretary, Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Salawu Sefinat Ohunene attributed several SCIs to domestic abuse, violence and road accidents.
Sefinat implored government and corporate organizations to provide physical therapy equipments and build a rehabilitation centre to reshape the life of SCI survivors.
She also appealed for empowerment for persons with SCI to relieve the burden and make life easy.
Sefinat, however, decried the high prevalence of discrimination against survivors at every facet of endeavour which had caused untold hardship and embarrassment to people with SCI.
On her part, Financial Secretary of the Chapter, Abigail Simon expressed concern over the lack of attention about their plight as government and private facilities like schools, hospitals, banks and others public places remain largely inaccessible to persons with disabilities and SCI survivors in the state.
Abigail emphasized that many survivors have prerequisite knowledge and skills to contribute to the progress of country and therefore called on good spirited individuals to support SCI survivors who were constantly being isolated as a result of their conditions.
Celebrated September 5 every year, Spinal Cord Injury, S.C.I. Day is a reminder of the challenges faced by individuals living with spinal cord injuries and an opportunity to emphasize public commitment towards SCI prevention.
This year’s theme, “End Violence, Protect Spinal Cord raises concern about cases of spinal cord injuries resulting from violence which remain a major concern globally.
