Oyo State Government on Tuesday called for more awareness, Early Diagnosis and detection of Scoliosis to provide necessary support for people living with Scoliosis in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, made the call, while declaring open the Year 2023 Scoliosis Week hosted by Beyond A Curved Spine at Trinity Hospital,Old Ife Road, Ibadan.
She explained that there is a need to support the scoliosis warriors, dispel cultural myths, ensure early diagnosis and better prognosis.
She speaks further, Scoliosis is abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, usually diagnosed in adolescents. The prevalence of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) globally is 0.35 to 13% depending on ethnicity and gender, and it is commoner in females than males.
“His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde has health as one of his administrative pillars and is determined to make the people of Oyo State stay healthy in all ramifications.
“We need to dispel cultural myths; ensure early diagnosis , better prognosis, create awareness, share this information and support individuals with scoliosis. With this, we can create a world where everyone regardless of their spinal health can live a fulfilling and empowered lives’.
The Project Coordinator, Dr. Mutaleeb Shobode, described scoliosis as a complex spine deformity that affects the growth of other parts of the body.
He emphasized the need for those battling with scoliosis not to be ashamed of their condition but present themselves to specialists for treatment and necessary care.
While advocating for genuine love and emotional support for victims, Dr. Mutaleeb, called on well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the children whose parents could not afford the cost of the surgery both in Nigeria and abroad.
Also speaking, the Co-Founder, Beyond A Curved Spine (BACS), Bimbo Oladapo, said the organization was established to make life better for carriers of scoliosis by providing them with medical and psychological support.
She appreciated the Oyo state government and commissioner for health for associating with the group and sought support of the state government to increase the number of beneficiaries during the outreach.
In their separate remarks, Mr.Ojimba Raymond, Mrs.Kadijat Bashir and Dr. Olubumi Ojo, thanked the organizers for their humanitarian services and medical care given to their children.
They appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde led administration to assist in subsidizing the cost of scoliosis surgery for the sake of less privileged individuals.