OPAK: Equal Participation is a Right, Not a Privilege

The Cyprus Paraplegic Organization (OPAK) commemorated the International Day of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury, emphasizing that equal participation is a right, not a privilege. OPAK reminds of the challenges faced by individuals with spinal cord injury, a condition leading to complex forms of disability.

In a statement, OPAK points out that spinal cord injury can cause paraplegia or tetraplegia, affecting basic bodily functions and causing chronic health problems, such as breathing difficulties and infections.

The organization stresses the need for high-level care services, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, specialized medical monitoring, and accessible infrastructure.

OPAK calls for the creation of a service that will deal with accessibility issues in Cyprus, at the level of policy-making and monitoring of implementation. It also refers to a bill for the establishment of an Independent Accessibility Authority, calling on the President of the Republic to contribute to its establishment.

Finally, OPAK awaits the new welfare legislation for people with disabilities, hoping that the needs of people with spinal cord injury will be better served.

Source: CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY