International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Injury (IPSCI)

Background  Guided by Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities  Building on WHO/World Bank World report on disability  Will support the WHO global disability plan of action 2014 – 2021

Aims of the Report  To bring together the best-available information on SCI, in particular epidemiology, services, interventions and policies;  To reflect the lived experience of people with SCI across the life course and throughout the world;  To make evidence-based recommendations for action.

| How was the Report developed?  Involvement of a large number of stakeholders: – advisory and editorial committees; – over 200 contributors from low, middle and high income countries.  Review process: regional consultation, peer review.  People with spinal cord injuries and their organizations central to the process  Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF) provided support to WHO and ISCOS for report's development

What does the Report tell us? – More men than women ratio 2:1

Causes Up to 90% are traumatic causes Main three causes: road traffic crashes, falls and violence Non traumatic injuries are growing in number

Impacts 2 to 5 times more likely to die prematurely high costs to individuals and society. –indirect costs generally exceed direct costs. –costs of SCI are higher than for comparable conditions –much of the costs are born by individuals lower rates of school enrollment and economic participation

Key messages Spinal cord injury is:  preventable;  survivable;  liveable.

What works to increase survival –Timely, appropriate pre- hospital care –Acute care

What works to improve health and participation –Access to ongoing health care, –Access to rehabilitation and mental health services –Access to appropriate assistive devices –Specialized knowledge and skills –improve access to education and economic participation

Content Overview 1.Understanding SCI 2.A global picture of SCI 3.Prevention of SCI 4.Health care and rehabilitation needs 5.Health systems strengthening 6.Attitudes, relationships and adjustment 7.SCI and enabling environments 8.Education and employment 9.The way forward

Main recommendations 1.Improve health sector response to SCI 2.Empower people with SCI and their families 3.Challenge negative attitudes to people with SCI 4.Ensure that buildings, transport and information are accessible 5.Support employment and self-employment 6.Promote appropriate research and data collection

Summary 250,000 – 500,000 people annually SCI is preventable, survivable and liveable The Report shows us how Success is within reach

| Contact details Alana Officer – Doug Brown – Jean-Jacques Wyndaele – Per von Groote –

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