World Down Syndrome Day: Expert Advocates Equal Opportunity For Children With Special Needs

Aina Matthew

By Jason John

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day, (WDSD), a Special Needs teacher, Aina Mathew has urged Nigeria’s federal government to be more intentional in providing equal opportunities for children living with Down Syndrome.

Mathew, who is also the Project Director of Pleasant MInd Academy made the call during an interview with Humsimedia Online on Thursday in Abuja.

She urged the government to ensure strict compliance with laws that were made to protect the rights of vulnerable children in Nigeria.

According to her: “We implore government to be more intentional in providing equal opportunities for all children, irrespective of their conditions.

“We also appeal to the society to be more sensitive and accommodating of children with disabilities and end the stereotypes against them, for the overall good of the country.

She identified stereotype as a misleading narrative.

Unfair cultural and religious prejudices and increasing lack of healthcare and education resources have been described as challenges stifling the survival, inclusion and development of children with Down Syndrome in Nigeria.

World Down Syndrome Day is annually celebrated on the 21st of March globally, in order to highlight the peculiar challenges faced by people with Down Syndrome and how government and the society could help to assuage their plight.

Experts say Down Syndrome (or Trisomy 21), is a congenital chromosomal disorder, in which a person has an extra chromosome, a condition mostly responsible for development and learning disabilities.

“People with Down Syndrome are also impacted by diverse medical conditions too, including internal organ defects.

The theme of this year‘s event is “#End the stereotypes”.

“Many people in the Nigerian society, still believe that children with disabilities are ‚possessed‘ by some kind of evil spirits or demons and such other misleading narratives that expose them to cruel treatments, dehumanisation and stigmatisation”, she added.