Spinal Injuries Association of Malawi

23/01/2026

Congratulations

12/01/2026

Join Us on Our Journey – We're Hiring

21/12/2025

08/12/2025

03/12/2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)
3 December 2025
Theme: Dignity • Mobility • Inclusion

Today, SIAM joins the world in celebrating the strength, resilience, and contributions of persons with disabilities—especially those living with spinal injuries across Malawi.

Mobility is dignity. Inclusion is a right.
This IDPD, we call on all stakeholders to:

✔️ Promote certified, appropriate wheelchairs
✔️ Improve access to rehabilitation and healthcare
✔️ Make schools, workplaces, and public buildings accessible
✔️ Support social protection and economic empowerment
✔️ End stigma and discrimination

Persons with disabilities are leaders, parents, innovators, and active nation-builders.
When we remove barriers, we unlock potential.

💙 SIAM remains committed to advancing mobility, dignity, and full inclusion for all.

Happy IDPD 2025!
Together, we rise.

24/11/2025

https://www.disabilityrightsfund.org/2025/10/29/my-story-care-support-and-the-right-to-live-with-dignity/

19/11/2025

👏International Men's Day! 🙌💙
This day is not about comparing genders - it's about appreciating men as fathers, brothers, sons, friends and colleagues. 👏👏👏👏👏

19/11/2025

Public Awareness Message
Spinal Injuries Association of Malawi (SIAM) Certified Wheelchairs Safeguard Dignity and Mobility

November 2025 — Disability Awareness Month

Mobility is a fundamental human right. For thousands of Malawians living with spinal injuries and other mobility challenges, the right wheelchair is the difference between isolation and inclusion, dependence and independence, vulnerability and dignity.

That is why SIAM is calling on all stakeholders—government, service providers, well-wishers, donors, and communities—to ensure that every wheelchair is appropriate to the user’s needs and certified by a qualified specialist.

Certified wheelchairs are not just equipment. They are:

1. Safe and Reliable — reducing risks of accidents and injuries.

2. Comfortable and Properly Fitted — ensuring correct posture, balanced weight distribution, and long-term health. A properly fitted wheelchair prevents pressure sores, reduces muscle strain, and supports spinal alignment. It allows users to sit for extended periods without pain, improving their ability to learn, work, and participate in community life. Comfort is not a luxury—it is a medical necessity that protects against preventable complications and enhances dignity.

3. Durable and High-Quality — built to withstand diverse environments, ensuring consistent performance and reducing the need for costly replacements.

4. Empowering — enabling full participation in education, work, and community life, while restoring confidence and independence.

Consequences of Oversized Wheelchairs
When wheelchairs are not properly fitted—especially when they are oversized—the risks are serious:
Postural Problems: Oversized chairs fail to support the spine and body correctly, leading to deformities and chronic pain.
Reduced Mobility: Larger frames are harder to maneuver, limiting independence and participation in daily life.
Safety Hazards: Loose seating increases the chance of slipping, tipping, or falling, putting users at risk of injury.
Health Complications: Poor fit can cause pressure sores, circulation issues, and long-term musculoskeletal damage.
Loss of Dignity: An ill-fitting wheelchair undermines confidence and reinforces exclusion rather than empowerment.

Our Call
This Disability Awareness Month, SIAM urges government, donors, and communities to commit to action. Certified, properly fitted wheelchairs must be the standard, not the exception. Together, we can safeguard dignity, protect health, and unlock independence for every Malawian who needs mobility support.

Mobility is not a privilege—it is a right. Certified wheelchairs are the pathway to realizing that right.

13/11/2025

13/11/2025

Our wheelchairs carry us, but our love carries our future. – Godfrey & Patience; and Seth & Mary
These two unions are more than weddings — they are living proof that disability is not a barrier to marriage, life, love or leadership.
They challenge us:
• Are our homes accessible?
• Are our training programmes inclusive?
• Are our policies designed so that people with disabilities are full participants?
Celebrate their love. Commit one action this week toward more inclusion. Congratulation guys

12/11/2025

When persons with disabilities are part of the design, we build livelihoods that are stronger, fairer and more resilient together

The Spinal Injuries Association of Malawi (Siam) has concluded a two-day meeting in Chikwawa aimed at improving the inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster relief efforts.

Supported through disability funds and held under the theme Inclusive Climate and Disaster Risk Governance, the engagement brought together organisations such as the Association of the Physically Disabled in Malawi (APDM) , Fedoma and Dodma.

Siam executive director, Bylon Kondowe, said the discussions were necessary because some people with disabilities in Chikwawa were left out during past cyclones. “This meeting will help us do better,” he said.

Participants shared experiences and discussed ways to make disaster response more accessible for everyone.

Apdm executive director, Charles Khaula, said he is hopeful that support for people with disabilities will improve. Dodma assistant district risk management officer, Kumbukani Luckio, said collaboration among stakeholders is key.

The initiative aligns with the Persons with Disability Act (2024), which calls for legal protection and the establishment of a Disability Trust Fund.

(Report by Andrew Tembo – Correspondent)