Abdulwahab
Matepo, the group’s president, made this appeal at a press conference held in Lagos.
Mr
Matepo highlighted the neglect and lack of attention to rehabilitation issues
in Nigeria despite the high incidence of spinal cord injuries due to road
crashes, violence and other causes.
“I did
my own (rehabilitation) in Germany. She (secretary) did hers in India. You have
people like that. If you ask anybody who has done rehab, it’s either India,
Germany, the UK, the US, or South Africa,” he said.
He
noted that disability is a universal possibility that can impact any individual
at any moment, highlighting the critical necessity for accessible
rehabilitation services.
Spinal
cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is damaged, disrupting communication
between the body and the brain. It damages the nerves in the spinal column,
leading to varying degrees of permanent motor, sensory, and functional
impairment.
To
help survivors of violence, falls, and road traffic accidents in Nigeria regain
their quality of life, comprehensive rehabilitation is essential. Such services
are urgently needed to foster independence and prevent potentially
life-threatening complications.
Mr
Matepo noted that the government allocated some hectares of land to the group
for the construction of a rehabilitation centre, but their involvement seems to
end there.
He,
however, noted that the Lagos State government has contributed by fencing the
premises and landscaping, but the purpose of the land has yet to be achieved.
According
to Mr Matepo, adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury is difficult.
He
noted that the absence of mental health resources and societal barriers to
embracing this new reality exacerbate the risks of suicide and depression among
survivors.
He
explained that at the rehabilitation hospital, the spinal cord injury patients
would undergo mental health, physical, occupational and vocational therapy,
amongst others.
He
said the physical therapy includes training in using wheelchairs and other
assistive devices, which is often necessary but not always provided, while
occupational therapy helps individuals learn new skills to maintain economic
independence and community integration.
Mr
Matepo added that mental health therapy is crucial for coping with the
psychological impact of the injury, including depression, which is a
significant issue amongst spinal cord injury survivors.
He
also shared a personal experience of being advised to find ground-floor
accommodation after he was discharged from the hospital, six months after the
accident that left him wheelchair-bound.
The
group’s president said that in 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO)
launched a programme called ‘Rehabilitation
2030,’ and developed a tool to assess how each country is performing.
The
initiative aims to recognise rehabilitation as an essential service and
integrate it into the healthcare system.
“Recently,
they were in Nigeria to deploy the tool, and what they found was far below
expectations,” Mr Matepo said.
He
noted that Nigeria lacks a rehabilitation policy and that rehabilitation is not
mentioned in its health policy.
Rehabilitation centre overview
On his
part, David Majekodunmi, an architect and consultant, emphasised the role of a
rehabilitation centre in restoring dignity, rebuilding independence and
creating hope for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Mr
Majekodunmi noted that the proposed centre would feature a comprehensive range
of facilities, including specialised spinal rehabilitation boards,
physiotherapy and occupational therapy units, hydrotherapy and mobility
training facilities, and vocational and skills-acquisition facilities.
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