Turkana County Rehabilitative Services hosted a celebration on Wednesday at the Occupational Therapy Department of Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH) in a bid to create awareness about Down Syndrome (DS). The celebration aims to raise awareness, dispel stereotypes, and debunk myths associated with the syndrome. According to the National Ministry of Health, one in every 700 children is born with Down Syndrome (DS). However, despite its prevalence, this chromosomal disorder remains relatively unknown, prompting the need for greater awareness. To this end, every October has been dedicated to creating this awareness, and this year’s theme, ‘With us, NOT for us,’ seeks to uphold the rights of people with DS to make their own decisions. It advocates for their active participation in various organisations, policy-making, and work teams, emphasising their overall well-being. ‘Down Syndrome is not a disease but a lifelong condition. At the Lodwar County Referral Hospital, we are ready to support the parents of children with the syndrome with the required health services,’ said Dr. Kidalio Ekiru, the Deputy Director of LCRH. The County Coordinator for Rehabilitative Services, Concepta Long’ole, said that early interventions and specialised education are essential components that empower individuals with Down Syndrome to realise their potential and accomplishments. ‘Although there is no cure for Down Syndrome, various support systems such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies are available to assist in their development,’ she said. She further added that the programme will create a database of DS patients and then link them with the occupational therapists at the sub-county hospitals.

Source: Kenya News Agency