By Leonard Okachie
The Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), Abia chapter, has appealed to Gov. Alex Otti, to provide a rehabilitation centre for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
The SCIAN Chairman, Mr David Onuoha who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the facility would provide crucial support and therapy to help patients regain independenc
Onuoha said that the centre would enable a team of specialists, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and medical consultants, to work together to develop personalised treatment plans for them.
He also said that the centre would improve the quality of life they live and significantly enhance recovery outcomes, enabling individuals to live more independently.
Onuoha said: “We urgently need a rehabilitation centre whether in Umuahia or any town in Abia, where we can come to engage a physiotherapist to help us.
“Also, some of us who don’t have a place to stay can as well be clustering around that place.’’ he said.
The chairman also reminded the governor of the group’s request for a Sienna bus as mobility aid, which it made since last year, adding that its unavailability was hampering its activities.
He said that the association had more than 300 members, adding that some of them were in dire need of wheelchairs to help them walk around.
NAN reports that the association celebrated this year’s World Spinal Cord Injury Day on Sept. 5, at its secretariat in Umuahia.
According to Onuoha, we decided to celebrate the day at our secretariat because we don’t have the mobility aid to convey our members to a serene environment.
He expressed gratitude to the physiotherapists and other medical experts who enlightened them during the day’s celebration, saying that the lectures were meant to help them reach their full potentials.
(NAN)
