More people with spinal cord injury can survive to lead healthy and productive lives, if they have access to timely, appropriate emergency and acute care.

That’s the main message in a report entitled “International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Injuries” issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the International Day of People with Disabilities observed annually on 3 December.

As many as 500,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year, the agency says. And the mortality rate for people with that injury is high, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Jocelyne Sambira has more.

Duration:  3'55"