Todah Down Syndrome Foundation has called on the government to implement policies that are geared towards addressing the needs of children with Down syndrome.
Chief Executive Officer of Todah Down Syndrome Foundation, Agnes Nyemitei Teiko, said policies in the area of education, health among others could help children with this condition.
“Teachers need support to be able to handle these children who develop slowly and have intellectual disability, so taking care of them becomes a challenge. However, with special training and assistance, teachers are good to go,” she noted.
According to the foundation, currently there are no policies aimed at helping lighten the burden of families with such wards.
At a sensitisation drive at Tema New Town, here in the Greater Accra region, Todah Down Syndrome Foundation and Breasted One Foundation said the disease and breast cancer need attention.
As October is a month set aside to create awareness and help dispel misconception about Down syndrome and breast cancer, the two foundations have called for intense sensitisation.
The awareness among other things seeks to drum home challenges families are facing as well as fight stigma attached to them.
Todah Down Syndrome Foundation wants children with the disease to benefit from inclusive system of education.
“We are asking for special schools for our wards. By doing so, the children will grow up learning socially accepted behaviours from their peers. They will also have normal children as their friends,” Nyemitei Teiko suggested.
A parent, Debbie Mangortey whose ward has the disease is asking for policies which address health needs of such children.
“Do we have specialists who know that children with the disease have dental issues? I have a six-year-old son and these children have complex health needs. Such policies will ensure that accessing healthcare becomes cheaper,” she suggested.
Chief Executive Officerof Breasted One Foundation,Naa Korshie Quaye after a screening exercise said spirituality and myths make the fight against breast cancer tough.
“I am not against anybody seeking spiritual help. You must first see a doctor. Those who tend to seek spiritual help first end up with their condition worsening,” she advised.
Source: Adom News/Kwame Yankah