Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot on Saturday inaugurated the 20th International Spine and Spinal Injuries Conference (ISSICON 2020: Virtual), where medical experts from all over the world gathered to discuss the challenges of treating and managing spinal injury patients and way ahead in the aftermath of global Covid-19 pandemic.
With increasing spinal injuries due to road accidents and its changing pattern in the developing world, surgeons and experts attending ISSICON 2020 virtually deliberated on various ways to cushion the impact of COVID-19 pandemic among the spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and their reintegration in workforce for economic self-reliance. The five-day conference is being organised by the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi in collaboration with the Spinal Cord Society.
“According to estimates, India records about 20,000 new cases of spinal cord injury. It is important to treat them comprehensively and manage their condition. But at the same time, it is important that they do not remain dependent on others. At a time when the world has moved inside and working from their homes, spinal injury patients should not be left behind or out. I am happy to know that the best professionals have gathered here to deliberate on this,” said Gehlot.
“The mission of ISSICON 2020 is spreading awareness and prevention of spinal injury, provide education and training, as well as social inclusion and community outreach for people with spinal injury, especially in this extraordinary situation. The whole world has changed in past 12 months. I hope that the vaccine will be available throughout the world and not just in wealthy countries,” says Dr Ruth Marshal, president of International Spinal Cord Society.
Dr H S Chhabra, president - Association of Spine Surgeons of India, Secretary - Spinal Cord Society and Chief of Spine Service and Medical Director of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre said “Spine problems in developing countries are increasing at a rapid pace – road traffic injury deaths have increased by six times during the last 5 years. Besides, with better socioeconomic conditions, the pattern of spine injury is changing. The conference helped us gather knowledge from the best practices followed around the world for better preventive, surgical as well as rehabilitative care and comprehensive treatment", he added.