The Scoliosis Focus Foundation has marked its 12th anniversary with a strong appeal for nationwide action. The group is calling for intensified campaigns to boost awareness, ensure early medical intervention, and secure stronger institutional backing for Nigerians living with scoliosis, a spinal curvature condition.
Twelve Years of Grassroots Advocacy
The foundation celebrated this milestone with an outreach program in Lagos, themed "The Hope of Glory." The event gathered medical experts, patients, beneficiaries, and advocates to reflect on over a decade of community engagement and advocacy work at the grassroots level.
Founder, General Practitioner, and Radiologist, Dr. Ayomide Akintan Adejuwon, explained that the initiative started in 2011 during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. It began as a community project designed to raise awareness and offer support to individuals with scoliosis.
Since then, the foundation has conducted numerous outreaches, organized lectures and conferences, and even held an endurance walk in 2013 from the National Institute of Medical Research. That walk involved consultant nurses, doctors, and patients. These activities have been crucial in identifying and providing follow-up care for scoliosis patients across various regions of Nigeria.
Addressing Awareness and Treatment Gaps
Dr. Adejuwon clarified that scoliosis is a deformity of the spine, not a disease. She noted that while some cases are congenital, most are idiopathic, often appearing during adolescence. A significant challenge is that many Nigerians are unaware of the condition, and there is a critical shortage of trained personnel specializing in scoliosis care.
"Many affected persons have never consulted an orthopaedic specialist," she revealed. Although the foundation provides financial, emotional, and medical support—including referrals, X-rays, and consultations through partner hospitals—it has been unable to offer free corrective surgeries due to their prohibitively high cost.
A Call for Collective Action
While global scoliosis awareness is observed in June, the foundation chose to hold its event before year-end to maintain public education momentum and bring people together during the festive season. Dr. Adejuwon used the platform to issue a direct appeal for support.
She called on the government, corporate organizations, non-governmental bodies, and the general public to join efforts aimed at improving access to comprehensive care for scoliosis patients in Nigeria. The foundation's work highlights a vital need for a coordinated national response to support those living with this spinal condition.
