Dr Peace Amaraegbulam, the Founder of Straight Child Foundation, an NGO, has called for increased advocacy on cerebral palsy to address the challenges facing persons with the health condition.
Amaraegbulam made the call on Wednesday during an interview with newsmen in commemoration of the first anniversary of the foundation in Umuahia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that celebral palsy is a congenital disorder that affects movement, muscle tone or posture.
She said cerebral palsy had become the most common cause of motor disability in children and recent studies had revealed its ratio to be 2-3 per 1000 children.
According to her, the lack of awareness on the condition is the main cause of depression in affected children and their families; and which limits the children’s opportunity of realising their full potential.
She said that the foundation would provide a powerful voice for persons living with cerebral palsy and connect with other cerebral palsy organisations to meet the needs of affected persons.
Amaregbulam emphasised the need for enlightenment campaigns on the causes of childhood disabilities and deformities to tackle marginalisation and discrimination against affected persons.
She said that enlightenment campaigns would aid in improving the participation and inclusion of children with health conditions such as cerebral palsy in the society.
She added that “most people blame cerebral palsy on witchcraft and the parents of children affected by the ailment often neglect or abandon them to die.
“This is the effect of ignorance, if they knew better, they will act better. I am confident that things will change for the better after intensive mass education.”
The NGO boss disclosed that in the foundation’s one year of existence, it started a clinic which handled more than 100 cases of cerebral palsy and treated 40 children with club foot free of charge.
She said that it was pertinent for Federal Government to facilitate the passage of the disability bill into law and urged state governments to domesticate the legislation.
