21 Nov 2017

Road traffic accidents are identified as the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Botswana at 68 per cent, says health and wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato.

Officiating at the maiden commemoration of spinal cord injury day at Mahalapye recently, Ms Makgato said a two-year study on traumatic spinal cord injuries in Botswana published in 2016, estimated an incidence of 13 people per million out of which 73 per cent were men, while 80 per cent were aged between 31 and 45.

Minister Makgato said the study identified road traffic accidents as the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries followed by violence related injuries and work related falls.

She added that spinal cord injuries could result from among others injuries from sports, gun shots, assaults and some illnesses such as Tuberculosis of the spine at cancer.

She also stated that even though the study was also focused on traumatic injuries, non-traumatic injuries were also a concern especially with the high rate of HIV/AIDS and TB infections in Botswana.

She said there was no cure nor treatment for spinal cord injury arising for either traumatic or non-traumatic causes as such the affected person became dependent on other people for certain activities.

Minister Makgato stated that the affected person required rehabilitation interventions to reduce the burden of the injury and minimised disability by improving the individual’s ability to function.

She said the interventions were delivered by different rehabilitation professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapist and psychologists.

She however, highlighted that the rehabilitation interventions were currently limited at district health services due to shortage of the required professionals.

Nevertheless, Minister Makgato said World Health Organisation Motor Vehicle Accident Fund and other stakeholders were working with her ministry to improve availability of such services to Batswana.

Ms Makgato said spinal cord injuries were preventable and that where it had occurred, provisions were made to respond comprehensively to the needs of the affected persons.

She said spinal cord injuries and the resultant paralysis hade devastating physical, mental, social and vocational consequences for the injured.

As such, she said the resultant injuries increased the economic burden on the affected individual and potentially on the entire family and society at large.

Creating awareness, she said would not only help in preventing the devastating condition, but also helped persons with spinal cord injuries live a purposeful and meaningful life.

She said affected people across the globe were deprived inclusive life.

Minister Makgato called on the society and all other sectors to join hands and promote programmes that were geared towards prevention of spinal cord injury. ENDS