Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day 2023

Friday 19 May 2023  is spinal cord injury awareness day, an annual event we lead on to raise awareness about spinal cord injury (SCI) and shed light on the challenges faced by individuals and our members on a daily basis.

This year’s focus revolves around our bowel care campaign #serioussh1t to stop SCI patients suffering harmful neglect as too many are being denied essential bowel care in medical settings. Appropriate specialist bowel care is crucial and today we look to highlight the serious consequences it can have on someone’s long term health when they don’t receive the help they need.

 

Mohammed Belal, a Consultant Urological Surgeon at University Hospital Birmingham, who himself sustained a spinal cord injury after being struck by a tree in 2021, believes the hardest part of his journey was the bowel care:

There is still a lack of knowledge around the public perception of SCI and SCI Awareness Day is important so that more of us have a greater understanding of the many issues that SCI people must face on a day-to-day basis

Over the past couple of years, the challenges faced by SCI individuals have reached unprecedented levels. Barriers to accessibility, limited care options, and society’s attitude surrounding disabilities profoundly affect the quality of life.

Our vision is a fulfilled life for everyone affected by SCI and in collaboration with our charitable partners, we are committed to providing support to our members and assisting them in overcoming the daily obstacles faced by SCI people.

Moreover, we also aim to celebrate the small victories, the triumphs that SCI individuals and our community conquer each day.

We launched our bowel care campaign in March of this year and below is one of the videos we created to illustrate exactly how inadequate bowel care affects someone with a SCI.