350+ join Wheelchair Rally in Delhi as 22 National Spine Care Societies & Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute come together to promote injury prevention, rehabilitation and inclusion

Tuesday, 8th September 2026: More than 500 people, including over 100 wheelchair users, participated in activities marking Spinal Cord Injury Day 2026 and the fourth edition of National Injury Prevention Week. The initiative includes a Wheelchair Sports and Cultural Programme, an Inclusive Health Check-up Camp and a major Wheelchair Rally, bringing together persons with spinal cord injury, healthcare professionals, caregivers, students, volunteers and members of the community. Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, as supporting health care facility, provided all support to these events and other Centralised events during the whole week.

A key highlight was the Wheelchair Rally held on September 5, which saw more than 350 participants, including 100 wheelchair users and 250 able-bodied participants, come together to promote injury prevention, accessibility and inclusion. The rally began from Khalsa College at 10:30 AM and concluded at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi University’s North Campus.

Organised under the aegis of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, 22 National Spine Care Societies have joined hands — the Spinal Cord Society, Association of Spine Surgeons of India, Spine Wellness & Care Foundation & HAMSA Rehab as Organising Societies and other 18 as Supporting Societies — with Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute as the supporting Health care facility for these events and other Centralised events during the whole week. In addition, each of these individual Societies organised events across India.

As part of the programme, an Inclusive Health Check-up Camp was organised at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Auditorium, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on 6th September, to provide health screening and consultations to wheelchair users and other participants. Wheelchair sporting activities held from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM featured Wheelchair Table Tennis, Boccia, Wheelchair Racing and Wheelchair Hurdles. An inclusive cultural programme from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM included wheelchair dance performances and professional wheelchair stunt demonstrations, celebrating ability, resilience and inclusion while highlighting the role of sports and community participation in rehabilitation and quality of life. The programme was also streamed live to extend its reach.

Dr. Harvinder Singh Chhabra, Chief of the Spine and Rehabilitation Centre at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, President of the Spinal Cord Society, Chairman of the Spine Wellness & Care Foundation and Coordinator for National Injury Prevention Week, said, “Many spinal cord injuries can be prevented through greater awareness and safer practices. When an injury does occur, timely medical care, comprehensive rehabilitation and sustained support can help individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Our effort is to strengthen both prevention and the ecosystem that enables people with spinal cord injury to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.”

Road safety remained an important focus of the campaign. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), 16,397 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2021 due to not wearing seat belts, including 8,438 drivers and 7,959 passengers, highlighting the importance of basic preventive measures such as consistent seat-belt use.

National Injury Prevention Week began on September 1 with online poster and slogan competitions on “Prevention of Spinal Cord Injuries” and “Yes, We Can.” On September 2, the Spine Team at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute conducted a Nukkad Natak on injury prevention.

The September 3 programme featured spinal cord injury awareness talks, inclusive dance, wheelchair activities and an expert panel discussion on “Making Lives of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury Happy, Meaningful and Worth Living.” On September 4, the webinar “The Power of the Mind” focused on psychological recovery, resilience and adaptation following spinal cord injury.

The week-long observance concluded on September 7 with a webinar on Injury Prevention, reinforcing the central message that prevention, timely treatment, rehabilitation and sustained social support must work together to improve outcomes and enable people with spinal cord injury to participate fully in society.