Don’t stigmatize children living with Down syndrome - Founder of Todah Foundation

Founder of Todah Foundation, Ms. Agnes Teiko Nyemi-Tei, has urged Ghanaians to be more accepting of people living with Down syndrome in the country, especially children.

She said Ghanaians must build a society that is socially inclusive by being welcoming to parents who have children living with Down syndrome and also putting in place social systems that can support their young ones.

“Let us hold hands with children with Down syndrome and bring them along; let’s take them to school; let’s not stigmatize them. They are human beings with lots of potentials to offer. If we will tap into it, we will find it” she said.

Ms. Agnes Teiko Nyemi-Tei made these comments on the #InFocus segment of HSTV’s Morning Show,#HealthyMorning, talking to Cecil Lee Longdon yesterday, about Down syndrome, as part of commemorating world Down syndrome Day. Included in the conversation were, Pediatrician, Dr. Sharon Mills and Mr. John Kojo Denanyoh, a father with a son living with Down syndrome.

Ms. Nyemi-Tei said, being a mother of an eight year old girl living with Down syndrome has not been an easy experience. She has had to learn how to manage her daughters’ special needs and also deal with the stigmas that come with the situation.

Mr. Kojo Denanyoh, noted that, even though his sons walking development delayed, with the help of intensive physiotherapy, his son finally started walking at age of two years.

Explaining Down syndrome, Dr. Sharon Mills, said, it is a lifelong clinical condition caused by extra chromosomes found in a person’s biology. Chromosomes, she said, determine the physical characteristics of every person, such as, hair and eyes colour and height.

Children with Down syndrome, because of extra chromosomes come with some unique physical features like, a more flat face; eyes that slat upwards; and are more floppy, resulting in delayed developments like sitting, crawling, walking and talking, she explained.

She noted a diagnosis of Down syndrome can be done at the prenatal stage of pregnancy, using blood test and an ultra sound scan. More advanced tests are CVS and Amniocentesis.

She said even though children born with Down syndrome also have mild to moderate mental impairment, with adequate family and social support, they can live normal lives.

‘The most important thing is that, they will need regular follow ups; because we know of various clinical conditions that can affect them” she said.