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Survivors of spinal cord injuries have said physical and attitudinal barriers are among the challenges hindering their participation in activities.
While speaking with our correspondent during the celebration of the 2024 International Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day, the Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, Iliya Ismail, said, “The critical challenges faced by survivors of spinal cord injuries in the state and country are barriers that hinder their inclusion and participation which are both physical and attitudinal.
“Lack of accessible infrastructure is one of the most prominent issues.”
Iliya maintained that many public spaces, including buildings and transportation systems, remain inaccessible to wheelchair users, limiting their ability to participate fully in society.
“It is unfortunate that even some medical facilities and equipment are not designed to accommodate the specific needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries, making it difficult for them to receive proper care.”
He pointed out that restrictions on participation in key activities inevitably lead to exclusion, leaving spinal cord injury survivors feeling left out of many aspects of daily life.
He stressed that to foster inclusivity, it is essential that these physical and attitudinal barriers are dismantled.
The chairman called on both the government and the society to do more to remove the obstacles that prevent full participation and inclusion for people living with spinal cord injuries.
Also speaking with our correspondent, the Chief Executive Officer of the Initiative for the Liberalisation of Physically Challenged People in Nigeria, Hamza Waziri called for a multifaceted approach to address the physical, emotional, and social challenges faced by survivors.
Waziri said “The need for better accessibility in public infrastructure.
“Society must ensure that buildings, schools, hospitals, and housing are fully accessible, with ramps, elevators, and other mechanisms in place to help survivors live independently.
“Improving accessibility should be seen in the total sense of the word.”
He stressed the importance of creating an environment that accommodates the needs of people with spinal cord injuries.
Waziri also highlighted the lack of access to assistive devices, such as customized wheelchairs, which are crucial for survivors.
Waziri stated, “In developed countries, this is taken very seriously, but here, spinal cord injury survivors do not have access to basic facilities such as advanced wheelchairs.”
He called on the National Health Insurance Scheme to step in and provide adaptive technologies, which would significantly improve the quality of life for survivors.
Another major challenge, Waziri said, is the difficulty survivors face in re-entering the workforce or continuing their education.
He said despite many survivors being well-educated, they often struggle to integrate back into society after their injuries, advising that inclusive education should be put in place, ensuring that survivors have access to vocational training and career counselling.
“The government should also implement the 5 per cent employment quota for people living with disabilities, as mandated by law, and to make reasonable adjustments in workplaces, such as installing ramps and providing flexible working arrangements,” the chairman said.
He commended the courage and determination of PWDs urging them to keep pushing forward despite the challenges.
“Your resilience and determination are powerful beyond measure. Keep on living – life is for the living, “he said.
He also expressed deep appreciation for the families of spinal cord injury survivors, recognizing their critical role in providing support and care adding that families are the pillars that survivors lean on in difficult times.
Our correspondent gathered that International Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day is celebrated on the 5th of September every year.
It is a day observed globally to highlight the challenges faced by survivors of spinal cord injuries.
This year’s celebration-themed, ‘End Violence – Protect Spinal Cord,’ underscores the importance of preventive measures in reducing the occurrence of the life-altering condition.
