Deputy Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Gifty Twum Ampofo has announced government’s move to enroll households with cerebral palsy on the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
She said the initiative was to reduce the financial burden of caring for children with the condition and other special needs on parents and caregivers.
Mrs. Twum Ampofo indicated that government will increase the number of People Living with Disabilities on the ‘LEAP’ programme, adding that it was expedient to include caregivers of children with special needs, critical among them, Cerebral Palsy.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at an event organised by Pumpkins Foundation in collaboration with Cerebral Palsy Ghana, to commemorate World Cerebral Palsy Day on the theme "Neglect of Positive Action on Cerebral Palsy; A scar on the conscience of the world.”
The event aims at involving a wider group of stakeholders to examine the needs of children with Cerebral Palsy and their parents and to learn about the current state of services offered in the country to address those needs in the areas of health, physiotherapy, education and social participation.
Minister of Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu said his ministry will collaborate with the Gender Children and Social Protection Ministry to guarantee the safety and needs of people living with Cerebral Palsy adding that 10 beds each will be provided in district hospitals for mental patients and cases.
He, however, cautioned the public to stop associating the illness with spiritual beliefs and curses.
Mr James Gawu, Founder, Health Support Foundation, explained that Cerebral Palsy is a disabling condition that affects the part of the brain responsible for sensory and motor coordination, resulting in impairment of speech and other senses.
He said notwithstanding the increasing cases of Cerebral Palsy especially among children in Ghana, little is being done in terms of inclusive policies, appropriate rehabilitation and other forms of services and support for parents of children living with the condition.
Additionally, he charged all partners, stakeholders and the general public to champion the course.
Mrs. Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond, executive director for Pumpkins Foundation called for a concerted effort for the holistic development of all children especially those with special needs, and a coordinated national thinking of stakeholders to tackle cerebral palsy frontally.
She, however, commended all partners, stakeholders and Cerebral Palsy Ghana for their support towards the initiative.
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