Giving Back Their Lives

Thousands of people suffer from Spinal Cord Injury in Bangladesh. CRP (Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed) is the only organization of its kind in Bangladesh that offers them a holistic treatment that includes training and rehabilitation programmes. ASCoN (Annual Asian Spinal Cord Network)  was established during an international conference held at CRP, Bangladesh, in 2001. Representatives from rehabilitation  centres  and  hospitals  came  together  to  discuss  how  to  sustain  the momentum and interest that was generated during this conference. The consensus was that organisations in the Asia region were working in isolation.  It was felt that a network like ASCoN would provide a platform for these organisations to come together and share and learn from each other. ASCoN became an affiliated society of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) in 2004 and now has 75 member organisations in 18 countries in Asia.

This year the conference will take place from November 27 – 29, 2014 at BRAC – CDM, Khagan, Savar. The main theme of the conference is “Living Life to the Full”.

There are six sub themes for scientific paper presentation: Community Based Rehabilitation, Operative versus Conservative Management, Urological Management, Psychological Rehabilitation, Role of the care givers and Inter – professional approach for persons with SCI.

Around 350 participants will attend the conference. ASCoN executive committee consisting of 15 members from eight different countries (Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Myanmar) will present. The workshops and parallel sessions of the conference will be facilitated by renowned expert resource persons from different countries like- Australia, UK, Poland, Denmark, USA, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany etc. Also from the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) the present and past presidents are going to participate in the conference. Different international and local professionals, physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors and surgeons are going to attend and present key notes.

Local authorities, government and non-government bodies and students are expected to attend the conference. Moreover, the Honorable Health Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already confirmed to be present as the chief guest of the opening session and the Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the chief guest of the closing session. Honorable Local MP of Savar, Director General of Health Services, Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare, Country Representative of ICRC and Head of Delegation of WHO will be present as special guests.