Article on CRP
Phil Commons, Grad Dip Phys, MSc, MCSP Dip MDT. Clinical Specialist in Physiotherapy. Pennine Ac
I write to thank you for highlighting the recent events in CRP. Your report has captured the attention of a multitude of supporters around the globe whose lives have been touched by the CRP founder Valerie Taylor. She has worked tirelessly to represent the needs of the paralyzed poor in Bangladesh for over twenty five years, single handedly galvanizing support from many parts of the world to establish a centre which will keep services within the grasp of the poorest. I myself met Valerie in 1989 and later witnessed first hand the commitment of this remarkable lady when I worked in CRP for five years as senior lecturer advisor in Physiotherapy 1999-2004. The centre specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury. The most severe and persistent paralysis is experienced by those who injure the cervical spine (neck). The most common cause for this is a fall whilst carrying a heavy load on the head. Other causes include road accidents, falling from a height, bull attacks and diving into shallow water. It will be no surprise to your readers that the occupations of the groups which sustain this type of injury are mostly farmers, day laborers and students. Most are male and behind each and every one is a family whose lives are also affected by loss of livelihood. Disability results in a fight for survival for the poorest of the poor. In my own research around the experiences of the disabled population conducted whilst working in CRP, I also found that the escalating costs involved in accessing services were prohibitive for many disabled patients particularly from rural communities. It is a valid and laudable point that Valerie Taylor is making that the centre should protect the interests of the disabled with rigorous pro-poor policies. If this happens it will continue to fulfill the function for which she has unreservedly and unstintingly devoted the most active years of her single life.
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