Getting back on his feet after an accident: Souleyman is walking thanks to his prosthesis

Centre National Hospitalier Universitaire de Cotonou, Tuesday 10 December 2024. It's mid-morning, the courtyard is flooded with sunlight and the air is completely still. Souleyman Lawani, a man in his sixties, is waiting in a small room cooled by a ceiling fan. He has an appointment to have his prosthesis checked. For Souleyman Lawani, whose leg was amputated after a car accident, being able to come and go as he pleases is a huge relief. His situation today is the result of his own courage and determination, and some crucial encounters that changed the course of his life.

A road accident and a life in ruins

Souleyman survived a road accident in June 2017. He was on his way home from sport practice when he was hit by a car and knocked unconscious. The driver fled the scene and, as no one else saw the accident, it took a long time for emergency services to arrive. Souleyman was taken to CNHU in Cotonou. The doctors tried to suture his left leg, but the wounds were too deep and they were forced to amputate.

Road accidents, the third biggest cause of rehabilitation needs in Benin, and they can ruin a person’s life. Before his accident, Souleyman worked as an auto body painter and he was married with a family. But after his accident, his wife left him and he lost his job. With only one leg, his movements were restricted and he depended on others for all his everyday tasks.

To regain his autonomy, Souleyman needed a prosthesis, but he couldn’t afford one. A prosthesis costs almost €700, not including the artificial knee joint that allows the wearer to sit down without having to unclip it. This is a lot of money considering that the minimum monthly wage in Benin is around €80. But Souleyman was refused to give up hope and began looking for solutions; he even wrote to the Ministry of Health to ask for help.

Greater autonomy

Some time later, Souleyman heard about the Guichet Unique de Protection Sociale (GUPS), a decentralised structure attached to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance that runs a community-based rehabilitation contact centre. He went along and met Sabine Agbo, the centre's technical manager, who has been supporting him ever since. Together, they put together a case file, and Souleyman contacted HI, one of GUPS’ partners.To help Souleyman regain his mobility and independence, HI covered his travel costs, his medication and the cost of making his prosthesis. The organisation also financed twenty 90-minute physical therapy sessions that he attended conscientiously three times a week. He also did exercises at home to keep his muscles flexible. His progress was spectacular. Where he once had difficulty getting around, today he is walking without difficulty and can go wherever he wants.

‘Before I had my prosthesis, I couldn't walk, I just hopped around. Today, everything is much easier. I walk well and I'm no longer in pain. I'm happy to have got my independence back, to be able to go to the market on my own, for example,’ explains Souleyman Lawani.

Since receiving his prosthesis, Souleyman has gone back to the CNHU regularly for follow-up. On this particular Tuesday in December, as he entered the exercise room, the orthoprosthetist and HI teams noticed that he seemed to be slightly off balance: his pelvis tilted slightly to the right when he walked. They made a few adjustments and added an insole to his left shoe, then gave him an appointment the following week to make a permanent adjustment the height of his prosthesis. HI’s teams also decided to provide him with more physical therapy sessions: Souleyman will be starting them in the next few days.

Next step: Financial independence

After losing his job, Souleyman was in a difficult situation, with no income to cover his day-to-day expenses. For him, regaining financial independence was crucial. To help him, HI and GUPS approached various partners who support the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market. With the help of Sabine Agbo, Souleyman has now defined his professional project.

“At my age, there are some very physical activities that I can't do any more, so I'd like to retrain and start a small business. My plan is to open an ice cream stand. I'm also thinking of diversifying my business by buying a condiment mill to offer spices."

Thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Souleyman has bought a small freezer to sell ice cubes during the festive season. This is a first step towards the independence he aspires to and is actively preparing for.

Life hasn't been kind to him, and he's been through some hard times, but all those who have been supporting him confirm that Souleyman is a determined and courageous man who is working hard to beat the odds and bounce back.

“It's been hard for him. But since getting support, he has felt better and is regaining hope. A road accident can really change a life,” adds Prunelle Togni, the physical therapist in charge of rehabilitation at HI.

Promoting and developing rehabilitation in Benin

Benin has around 300 rehabilitation professionals, i.e. less than one for every 100,000 inhabitants, and 80% of them work in the south of the country and in the big cities. Financial barriers also limit users' access to these essential services, which is why HI is running a project to develop them.

HI's rehabilitation project was launched in 2022 and it will run until 2026. The project will provide support for around 300 people like Souleyman Lawani. HI's activities are twofold: firstly, running road safety awareness campaigns in partnership with road safety clubs and associations. Secondly, supporting rehabilitation services for road accident victims in order to break the chain of production of motor disabilities and strengthen their functional autonomy. This project is being implemented in close collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, associations of rehabilitation professionals and health centres. Training courses are also being organised for healthcare professionals to improve interdisciplinary care and raise awareness of the benefits of rehabilitation after a road accident.