Spinal cord injury: Hospital record 40 cases monthly – CMD

The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano, records no fewer than 40 spinal cord injury patients monthly, according to its Chief Medical Director, Dr Muhammad Salihu.

Salihu disclosed this at the World Spinal Cord Injury Day in Kano on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, with theme – Yes We Can – was organised by Rebuilding Hope on Wheels Initiatives (RHOWI), an NGO.

“The hospital receives two patients on daily basis, 10 patients weekly and 40 patients monthly and 70 per cent of the patients are accident victims,” he said.

He said that the hospital had converted a 30-bed ward to spinal cord centre and started constructing a 100-bed capacity ward to accommodate the increasing number of spinal cord injury patients.

He appealed to public-spirited individuals and organisations to support the hospital in completing the ward for the benefit of the patients.

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Speaking at the event, RHOWI Founder, Hajiya Amina Abdu, said the organisation was committed to promoting increased understanding and positive perception of people with disability, especially those affected by spinal cord injury.

“We are also committed to campaign for positive change in health care and policy so that the needs of spinal injured people/dysfunction are recognised and addressed.

“RHOWI is at the forefront of disability rights movement and removing barriers to people on wheelchairs,’’ she said.

She called for the establishment of rehabilitation centres to ensure that survivors and patients in hospitals received the best specialised care.

NAN reports that the event was attended by many spinal cord injury patients from across the state.