REPORT INJURY PREVENTION WEEK AND WORLD SPINAL CORD INJURY DAY

October 23, 2023

The Spinal Foundation partners several other professional and consumer associations to observe the Injury Prevention Week (September 01-07 every year) under the aegis of the Directorate of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the World Spinal Cord Injury Day (September 05 every year).

This year, a centrally coordinated week-long activity plan was executed partnered with professional and consumer networks, especially The Spine and Wellness Care Foundation, supported by Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute:

Date	Programme	Venue	Time
1^st September, 2023	Webinar on topic “Power of the mind”	Online	0700pm – 0830pm
2^nd September, 2023	Poster Competition “Prevention of Spinal Cord Injuries” Slogan Competition “Yes we can”	Online	0630 pm – 0715pm 0715 pm – 0800pm
3^rd September, 2023	Wheelchair sports and Cultural programme	Noida Stadium, Sector 21A	0200pm-0700pm
4^th September, 2023	Panel discussion on “Strategies to overcome the challenges in management of Spinal Cord Injury”	Online	0700pm – 0800pm
5^th September, 2023	SCI Day Celebrations Talk on Awareness on SCIInclusive dance Nukkad NaatakWheelchair activities	Hybrid mode Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute	0330pm – 0500pm
6^th September, 2023	Panel Discussion “Injury Prevention”	Online	0700pm -0800pm
7^th September, 2023	Audio visual on Prevention of SCI	Online	0700pm – 0800pm

The three webinars were moderated by Dr HS Chhabra, Chief of Spine and Rehabilitation Centre, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute and had a set of luminary panelists:

“Power of the Mind” – Ms Deepa Malik, Ms Preethi Srinivasan

“Strategies to overcome the challenges in management of Spinal Cord Injury” – Dr Mathew Varghese, Dr Sanjay Wadhwa, Dr G Balamurali, Dr Gaurav Sachdeva, Mr Shivjeet S Raghav, Dr Harihara Prakash, Ms Vishakha Darak Thakkar, Mr Nishad Kassim

“Injury Prevention” – Dr Komal Kamra, Dr Gayatri Pooja, Dr Mathew Varghese, Mr Nishad Kassim, Dr Deepak Dash, Prof Geetam Tiwari

These webinars were most illuminated and multi-faceted, very well attended.

The Poster Competition on “Prevention of Spinal Cord Injuries” and the Slogan Competition on “Yes we Can” had many entries; the participants were asked to speak about their entries and then faced queries from a panel of judges – Dr Gaurav Sachdeva and Dr Shanu Shrivastava – and attendees. These were very well contested.

The MEGA event “Wheelchair sports and Cultural programme” was held at the NOIDA Stadium. It was attended by 158 registered participants on wheelchairs and their families, blessed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of UP, Sh Yogi Adityanath with his message, and the presence of members of the Directorate of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, including Prof (Dr) Atul Goel (Director General, Health Services) and Dr Manas Pratim Roy (Asst Director General, Health Services).

The wheelchair races set the pace with Shivjeet S Raghav conducting the sporting events. The national wheelchair basketball team and the national wheelchair rugby team held exhibition matches which completely enthralled the audience. This was followed by a series of mesmerising inclusive dances by Aamad Dance Centre. There was a Yoga performance by Ms Pooja Arya and songs by Thappi and Ms Rahini, all on wheelchairs! There was a much-appreciated display stall for artificial jewellery made by Madhuri Paturi, a wheel chair user.

The Felicitations and Award Ceremony followed. Happy to inform that The Spinal Foundation was awarded for the yeoman service it is providing in the field of spinal cord injury.

Towards the end, the organizing team broke into a musical dance performance with several from the audience joining in. The Tea and Snacks from Chaayos and Sheroes topped up the energy charge!

The creatives for all days: