The Spinal Cord Injuries Association Centre (SCIAN) has called on the Nigerian government to establish a specialised rehabilitation hospital for persons living with spinal cord injuries, citing the lack of adequate rehabilitation services in the country.
Speaking during a press conference held on Wednesday in Amuwo-Odofin, the President of SCIAN, Abdulwahab Matepo, lamented the neglect of rehabilitation care despite the growing number of spinal cord injury cases caused by road crashes, violence, falls and other incidents.
According to him, many Nigerians with spinal cord injuries are forced to seek rehabilitation abroad due to the absence of functional specialised centres in the country.
“I did my rehabilitation in Germany, while others travelled to India, the UK, the US and South Africa because there are no adequate facilities here,” he said.
Matepo stressed that disability could affect anyone at any time, underscoring the need for accessible and comprehensive rehabilitation services across the country.
He explained that spinal cord injuries disrupt communication between the brain and the body, often resulting in permanent motor, sensory and functional impairments that require long-term rehabilitation support.
The SCIAN president noted that although the government allocated land for the construction of a rehabilitation centre, progress on the project has remained slow.
He, however, acknowledged the intervention of the Lagos State Government, which he said had fenced and landscaped the site, although the proposed rehabilitation facility had yet to materialise.
Matepo also highlighted the psychological challenges faced by spinal cord injury survivors, warning that the absence of mental health support and societal acceptance often exposes victims to depression and suicidal thoughts.
He explained that the proposed rehabilitation hospital would provide mental health, physical, occupational and vocational therapy services aimed at helping survivors regain independence and reintegrate into society.
According to him, physical therapy would include wheelchair training and the use of assistive devices, while occupational therapy would equip survivors with skills needed for economic self-reliance and community participation.
Sharing his personal experience, Matepo recalled being advised to seek ground-floor accommodation after he was discharged from hospital six months after the accident that left him wheelchair-bound.
He further revealed that the World Health Organization launched the “Rehabilitation 2030” initiative in 2017 to promote the integration of rehabilitation into healthcare systems globally.
According to him, recent assessments conducted in Nigeria under the programme showed that rehabilitation services in the country remain far below global expectations.
Matepo added that Nigeria currently lacks a national rehabilitation policy, noting that rehabilitation is not adequately captured in the country’s health policy framework.
Also speaking at the briefing, architect and consultant, David Majekodunmi, said the proposed centre would help restore dignity, independence and hope to persons living with spinal cord injuries.
He disclosed that the facility would include specialised spinal rehabilitation wards, physiotherapy and occupational therapy units, hydrotherapy and mobility training facilities, as well as vocational and skills-acquisition centres designed to support long-term recovery and empowerment.
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