World CP Day: Prioritize the social protection system in Ghana

The Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues has called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to prioritize the social protection system to support children with cerebral palsy. Families raising children with cerebral palsy are usually left to struggle alone, there are no social support systems for such families, the Special Mothers Project is calling for the establishment of rehabilitation centres in various communities to support such families. A statement issued and signed by Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Founder and Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project, ahead of the World Cerebral Palsy Day celebrations on Sunday, 6th October lauded the increasing awareness on cerebral palsy in Ghana “People are becoming aware of that cerebral palsy exist in Ghana and it is not a curse or a bad omen to have a child with cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy is a neurological condition, it is an injury to the part of the brain that controls movement.” Referring to a communique issued at the Special Needs Parenting Summit held recently, the statement, urged government to ensure the effective implementation of the Inclusive Education policy to enable children with cerebral palsy also have access to education. “Every government school should dedicate one classroom for children with Special Needs where people could be trained to take care of them while the parents work to earn some income Parents raising children with disabilities should be able to access the District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities to help with the high cost associated with nurturing a child with disability,” the statement said World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with Cerebral Palsy and their families, and the organisations that support them, in more than 75 countries. The vision is to ensure that children and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society. The World CP Day celebration is an opportunity to Celebrate and express pride in the lives and achievements of those with CP and the people and the organisations that support them Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>