Don’t stigmatise children with special needs – Healthline Doctor

Doctor Marilyn Marbel, a Paediatric Neurologist has called on Ghanaians to accept and support children with cerebral palsy, autism and down syndrome.
Dr Marbel, who spoke about these conditions on Vodafone’s Healthline TV programme, said children with these disorders need the best care and support. She also appealed to government to put in place support systems for people with these disabilities, as they have no cure.
‘’Children with these conditions and their parents should not be stigmatised or blamed because they are not the cause. What is needed is an all-inclusive education that will ensure that every regular school has teachers who understand and can teach children with these conditions. Persons with these disabilities have the potential to learn.’’ She added.
Explaining the difference between the three conditions, Dr Marbel said:
‘’Autism is a developmental condition that affects the way a child communicates, behaves and perceives their environment. Down syndrome, on the other hand is a genetic disorder, which happens because there is an additional chromosome as part of one’s genetic make-up. Children with cerebral palsy have challenges with the way they move their body and control their muscles. This is because of an injury in the brain, which mostly happens during pregnancy, birth or the early years of a child’s life.’’
Vodafone’s Healthline programme has significantly contributed to changing the lives of Ghanaians since its debut some ten years ago. It has gone about its business by providing Ghanaians with expert health information and advice that have encouraged and empowered them to take control of their lives.
Vodafone Healthline shows on UTV on Mondays at 9pm; TV3 on Sundays at 3pm; Adom TV on Saturdays at 8:30pm and on Family TV on Sundays at 8pm.