EVENT - 2017 / BANGLADESH

2nd International Spinal Cord Injury Day observed in Bangladesh

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) observed the International Spinal Cord Injury Day on 5th September 2017. In line with International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) and Asian Spinal Cord Network (ASCoN), CRP observed the day with the theme "Yes We Can"inBangladesh jointly with theSpinal Cord Injuries Development Association (SCIDAB).

CRP has set up various facilities and institutions to serve SCI persons with the motto 'Service to Sufferers is service to God'. Some of the facilities are 100 bed SCI rehabilitation center, medical care unit, therapeutic intervention, psychosocial care, peer counseling, caregiver training, Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), production of assistive devices and mobility aids and comprehensive education facilities for allied health professionals. Prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, accessibility and survival of SCI person possess huge challenge. Limited resource and facilities, lack of awareness, lack of professional attitude, skills, affordability and mind set of people are the main barriers.Unfortunately, each patient with spinal cord injury is not referred to CRP and not all the patient with spinal cord injury receives complete treatment and rehabilitation due to lack of awareness and communication problem. To improve this situation, CRP is working collaboratively with Government hospitals to set up small spinal cord injury care facilities in 3 divisional medical college hospitals (Barisal, Chittagong and Rajshahi). At the same time, CRP established five divisional centers to expand treatment and rehabilitation facilities for people with SCI and other disabilities in all the divisional headquarters. As a part of the initiative, CRP and a group of people living with spinal cord injury established Spinal Cord Injuries Development Association (SCIDAB) to uphold rights of people living with spinal cord injury and their mainstreaming in the society.

The Occupational Therapy Department organised an "Art Therapy Group" as a part of leisure activity on 4th September with the participation of 15 SCI patients, both paraplegic and Tetraplegic participated. Each patient received a prize as the token of their participation.

CRP organised a rally including 200 SCI people at Dhaka-Aricha highway in the morning of 5th September, 2017. A human chain was formed there and leaflets about spinal cord injury were distributed among public.Then there was a discussion session on causes, consequences, management of spinal cord injury and ensuring inclusive life for persons with spinal cord injury at Reddaway Hall at 10 am.

Professor Dr. Abdul Awal, President, Bangladesh Spine Society was the Chief Guest of the programme. Among other attendees, Dr. FazlulHuq, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, Square hospital, Dr. Sharif Ahsan, Plastic Surgeon and Dr. Rafiqul Islam, President, Spinal Cord Injuries Development Association (SCIDAB) were Special Guests. Dr. Luis Garcia, a spine surgeon from Spain and a long standing friend of CRP, also joined in the special event. The programme was chaired by CRP's Executive Director, Md. Shafiq-ul Islam.All the divisional centres of CRP across the country also observed the day with special events in their area. The days programme was covered by several electronics and print media.

# SCI day was celebrated on 5th Sep 2017 with Open Doors Day for employees of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Building awareness; For SCI: "Prevention is Cure".

# Spinal cord injury Causes by Scarf strangulation by the Easybike. click here... for more.