Health Issues of People Health Issues of People with Disabilitieswith Disabilities

West Africa Transformation West Africa Transformation Development ConferenceDevelopment Conference

Ghana 2010Ghana 2010

Perfect DreamPerfect Dream

Empty Wheelchairs Symbolize No More Disabilities

RealityReality

600 million people live with disabilities600 million people live with disabilities Rapid increase due to:Rapid increase due to:

Population growthPopulation growth Increased aging populationIncreased aging population MalnutritionMalnutrition Chronic conditionsChronic conditions Injuries- war, violence esp. domestic violence, Injuries- war, violence esp. domestic violence,

accidentsaccidents AIDSAIDS

Society’s Impact on the Society’s Impact on the DisabledDisabled

5353rdrd World Health Conference World Health Conference

80% of people with disabilities esp. child 80% of people with disabilities esp. child population, live is low-income countriespopulation, live is low-income countries

Number of people with disabilities is growing Number of people with disabilities is growing faster in Africa than any other continent faster in Africa than any other continent

Poverty limits access to basic health carePoverty limits access to basic health care Socio-economic inequality significantly Socio-economic inequality significantly

increases disabilityincreases disability Cultural beliefs impact acceptance Cultural beliefs impact acceptance Increased violence in the home, community Increased violence in the home, community

and country are major causes of increaseand country are major causes of increase

View of the DisabledView of the Disabled

DevaluedDevalued DehumanizedDehumanized RejectedRejected VictimizedVictimized ExcludedExcluded InvisibleInvisible AspiritualAspiritual

It Could Happen to You!It Could Happen to You!

Motor ImpairmentMotor Impairment

Cerebral PalsyCerebral Palsy Spinal BifidaSpinal Bifida Traumatic Brain InjuryTraumatic Brain Injury Spinal Cord InjuriesSpinal Cord Injuries PolioPolio

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by injury to the brain, which occurs as the baby grows in the uterus or near the time of birth. Premature babies are at higher risk.

Types of Cerebral PalsyTypes of Cerebral Palsy

Health Care IssuesHealth Care Issues

Nutrition – poor eaters, may need feeding Nutrition – poor eaters, may need feeding tubetube

CommunicationCommunication Seizures – medication, seizure precautionsSeizures – medication, seizure precautions Spasticity – muscle relaxants, surgerySpasticity – muscle relaxants, surgery Mobility- leg braces, crutches, wheelchairMobility- leg braces, crutches, wheelchair Scoliosis resulting in lung compressionScoliosis resulting in lung compression

Life ImpactLife Impact

Life long disorderLife long disorder Long-term care needed for more severe Long-term care needed for more severe

casescases Normal life expectancyNormal life expectancy

Social impact – long term medical care Social impact – long term medical care and social needand social need

PreventionPrevention

Early prenatal care Early prenatal care may reduce risk of may reduce risk of premature birth thus, premature birth thus, reducing risk of CPreducing risk of CP

Spina BifidaSpina Bifida

Spina bifida is a congenital disorder (birth defect) in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth.

Health IssuesHealth Issues

Surgery to close backSurgery to close back Hydrocephalus – water on the brain – Hydrocephalus – water on the brain –

requires a drain from brain to abdomenrequires a drain from brain to abdomen Urinary tract problems – catheterizationUrinary tract problems – catheterization Seizures – may occurSeizures – may occur Mobility – braces, crutches, wheelchairMobility – braces, crutches, wheelchair ScoliosisScoliosis

Life ImpactLife Impact

Normal life expectancy Normal life expectancy Life long health needsLife long health needs Susceptible to urinary tract infections due Susceptible to urinary tract infections due

to daily catheterizationto daily catheterization

PreventionPrevention

Can be prevented Can be prevented when mother gets when mother gets Folic acid before Folic acid before getting pregnant and getting pregnant and during early days of during early days of pregnancypregnancy

Traumatic Brain InjuryTraumatic Brain InjuryTBITBI

Symptoms and long Symptoms and long term effects depends term effects depends on the area of the on the area of the brain that is brain that is damaged.damaged.

Symptoms of TBISymptoms of TBI

LethargyLethargy ConfusionConfusion IrritabilityIrritability Severe headachesSevere headaches Changes in speech, vision, or movementChanges in speech, vision, or movement BleedingBleeding VomitingVomiting SeizureSeizure ComaComa Death Death

Subtle Symptoms of TBISubtle Symptoms of TBI

Long- and short-term memory problemsLong- and short-term memory problems Slowed thinkingSlowed thinking Distorted perceptionDistorted perception Concentration problemsConcentration problems Attention deficitsAttention deficits Communication problems (oral or written)Communication problems (oral or written) Poor planning and sequencingPoor planning and sequencing Poor judgmentPoor judgment Changes in mood or personality Changes in mood or personality

TreatmentTreatmentPreventionPrevention

Medical treatment depends on the Medical treatment depends on the severity of the injuryseverity of the injury

Long term school issues may need to be Long term school issues may need to be addressedaddressed

Head gear during contact sportsHead gear during contact sports Helmet when riding motorcycle or bikeHelmet when riding motorcycle or bike Wear seatbelts in carWear seatbelts in car

Spinal Cord InjuriesSpinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury usually begins with a A spinal cord injury usually begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebraefractures or dislocates vertebrae

The damage begins at the moment of injury The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or or ligamentsligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue. tissue.

Some injuries will allow almost complete Some injuries will allow almost complete recovery. Others will result in complete recovery. Others will result in complete paralysis. paralysis.

TreatmentTreatment

Improved emergency care for people with Improved emergency care for people with spinal cord injuries and aggressive spinal cord injuries and aggressive treatment and rehabilitation can minimize treatment and rehabilitation can minimize damage to the nervous system and even damage to the nervous system and even restore limited abilities restore limited abilities

Respiratory complications indicates a Respiratory complications indicates a severe injurysevere injury

Joni Erickson TadaJoni Erickson Tada

PolioPolio

Nigeria is one of four endemic countries Nigeria is one of four endemic countries worldwide where polio infections worldwide where polio infections originate before they are transferred originate before they are transferred across borders; the others are across borders; the others are Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Globally Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Globally in 2009, 328 polio cases have been in 2009, 328 polio cases have been reported, 240 of them in polio-endemic reported, 240 of them in polio-endemic countries.countries.

Impact of PolioImpact of Polio

Prevention - vaccinePrevention - vaccine

In the past, resistance In the past, resistance among conservative among conservative religious groups in religious groups in northern Nigeria stymied northern Nigeria stymied campaignscampaigns

Lack of preparedness or Lack of preparedness or familiarity with polio familiarity with polio vaccines is now the vaccines is now the biggest challenge facing biggest challenge facing vaccinators. vaccinators.

Sensory ImpairmentsSensory Impairments

Visual Impairment - BlindnessVisual Impairment - Blindness

Hearing Impairment - DeafnessHearing Impairment - Deafness

Vision ImpairmentVision ImpairmentBlindnessBlindness

Blindness is the lack of vision that can Blindness is the lack of vision that can not be corrected by glasses or contactsnot be corrected by glasses or contacts

Partial vision means very limited sightPartial vision means very limited sight

Legally blind is 20/200Legally blind is 20/200

Leading Causes of Blindness Leading Causes of Blindness in Developing Countriesin Developing Countries

CataractsCataracts River BlindnessRiver Blindness Vitamin A Vitamin A

DeficiencyDeficiency TrachomaTrachoma

Seek Medical TreatmentSeek Medical Treatment

Sudden vision loss is always an Sudden vision loss is always an emergencyemergency

Symptoms of a detached retinaSymptoms of a detached retinaFloaters Floaters

Gray curtain or veil moving across Gray curtain or veil moving across your your field of vision field of vision

Requires immediate medical to save Requires immediate medical to save visionvision

CataractsCataracts

Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy visionfilmy vision

Glare from lamps or the Glare from lamps or the sun, which may be severe sun, which may be severe

Difficulty driving at night Difficulty driving at night due to glare from due to glare from headlights headlights

Frequent changes in Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptioneyeglass prescription

Double vision Double vision Difficulty performing daily Difficulty performing daily

activities because of vision activities because of vision problemsproblems

Cataract TreatmentCataract Treatment

Surgery is a common procedure that Surgery is a common procedure that involves removing the clouded lens of the involves removing the clouded lens of the eye (the cataract). eye (the cataract).

The lens can be replaced with an artificial The lens can be replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant lens called an intraocular lens implant (IOL) or(IOL) or

left out and eyeglasses or contact lenses left out and eyeglasses or contact lenses can compensate for its absence. can compensate for its absence.

OnchocerciasisOnchocerciasisRiver BlindnessRiver Blindness

Caused by a parasitic worm and is spread by Caused by a parasitic worm and is spread by the bite of an infected blackfly.the bite of an infected blackfly.

Multiple infectious bites are necessary for a Multiple infectious bites are necessary for a person to get the disease. person to get the disease.

Infected persons may not have symptoms, but Infected persons may not have symptoms, but a skin rash, eye lesions and/or bumps under a skin rash, eye lesions and/or bumps under the skin can occur. the skin can occur.

Eye lesions can progress to blindness. Eye lesions can progress to blindness.

TreatmentTreatment

Ivermectin is administered as an oral dose of Ivermectin is administered as an oral dose of 150 micrograms per kilogram (maximum 12 150 micrograms per kilogram (maximum 12 mg) every 6-12 months. mg) every 6-12 months.

The drug should probably not be given to The drug should probably not be given to pregnant women or children under 5 years. pregnant women or children under 5 years.

Ivermectin does not kill the adult parasites, but Ivermectin does not kill the adult parasites, but reduce the numbers of microfilariae in skin so reduce the numbers of microfilariae in skin so the disease does not progress the disease does not progress

Vitamin A DeficiencyVitamin A Deficiency

Night blindness or the Night blindness or the inability to see in dim inability to see in dim light – light –

Treatable with Vitamin A Treatable with Vitamin A which can be stored in which can be stored in the bodythe body

More severe, it develops More severe, it develops into an irreversible into an irreversible condition termed condition termed xerophthalmia, which is xerophthalmia, which is a drying of parts of the a drying of parts of the eye that will eventually eye that will eventually result in blindness. result in blindness.

Vitamin A DeficiencyVitamin A Deficiency

TrachomaTrachoma

The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatisThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that causes trachoma spreads through that causes trachoma spreads through direct contact with the eye, nose or throat direct contact with the eye, nose or throat secretions of infected people. secretions of infected people.

It's very contagiousIt's very contagious Almost always affects both eyesAlmost always affects both eyes Untreated trachoma can lead to Untreated trachoma can lead to

blindness.blindness.

Transmission Transmission

Hands Hands Clothing - towels Clothing - towels Insects. Insects. In the world's developing countries, flies In the world's developing countries, flies

are a major means of transmission. are a major means of transmission.

Trachoma SymptomsTrachoma Symptoms

Mild itching and irritation of the eye Mild itching and irritation of the eye Discharge from the eye containing mucus Discharge from the eye containing mucus

or pusor pus Marked light sensitivity (photophobia) Marked light sensitivity (photophobia) Blurred vision Blurred vision Eye painEye pain

Trachoma TreatmentTrachoma Treatment

Trachoma is preventable and, if treated Trachoma is preventable and, if treated early, the prognosis for people with early, the prognosis for people with trachoma is excellent. trachoma is excellent.

Trachoma treatment options depend on Trachoma treatment options depend on the stage of developmentthe stage of development

MedicationMedication

SurgerySurgery

Untreated TrachomaUntreated Trachoma

If left untreated, the If left untreated, the infection eventually infection eventually causes the eyelid to causes the eyelid to turn inwards, which turn inwards, which in turn causes the in turn causes the eyelashes to rub on eyelashes to rub on the eyeball, the eyeball,

Visually Impaired Can Visually Impaired Can Live a Normal Life with Live a Normal Life with

SupportSupport

Hearing ImpairmentHearing Impairment

Ear AnatomyEar Anatomy

Deaf Culture Deaf Culture Nigeria DelegationNigeria Delegation

Cognitive ImpairmentCognitive Impairment

Down SyndromeDown Syndrome Mental RetardationMental Retardation Learning DisabilitiesLearning Disabilities AutismAutism

Down SyndromeDown Syndrome

A genetic disorder that causes lifelong mental A genetic disorder that causes lifelong mental retardation, developmental delays and other retardation, developmental delays and other problemsproblems

Trisomy 21 Trisomy 21 Most common genetic cause of severe learning Most common genetic cause of severe learning

disabilities in childrendisabilities in children Most cases of Down syndrome aren't inherited. Most cases of Down syndrome aren't inherited.

They're caused by a mistake in cell division They're caused by a mistake in cell division during the development of the egg, sperm or during the development of the egg, sperm or embryo.embryo.

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Advancing age of mother – over 35 and Advancing age of mother – over 35 and teen mothersteen mothers

Having another child with Down Having another child with Down SyndromeSyndrome

Carrier of genetic translocation for Down Carrier of genetic translocation for Down SyndromeSyndrome

Related Health IssuesRelated Health Issues

Heart defects. May require heart surgery in Heart defects. May require heart surgery in early childhoodearly childhood

Leukemia.Leukemia. Infectious diseases especially pneumoniaInfectious diseases especially pneumonia Sleep apneaSleep apnea Obesity.Obesity. Other problemsOther problems including gastrointestinal including gastrointestinal

blockage, thyroid problems, hearing loss, blockage, thyroid problems, hearing loss, skeletal problems and poor vision.skeletal problems and poor vision.

Education for AllEducation for All

Emotional - Behavioral Emotional - Behavioral ImpairmentsImpairments

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHDDisorder - ADHD

Behavior DisordersBehavior Disorders Psychiatric DisordersPsychiatric Disorders

Sharing Information Sharing Information Empowers the DisabledEmpowers the Disabled