Miscellaneous
Cerebral palsy event kicks off in Capital
A weeklong event to empower caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders started in Kathmandu on Tuesday.Abijeet Pant
A weeklong event to empower caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders started in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
The event aims to sensitize citizens about the physical, mental, and social challenges children with cerebral palsy have to deal with.
Organisers Cerebral Palsy Nepal and Carers Worldwide gave details about the event at a press conference that marked the formal opening of the programme.Addressing the media, Carers Worldwide Founder Anil K Patil said, “There a lack of expertise among the caregivers to handle children with cerebral palsy. There is also a lack of awareness on the challenges that such caregivers face every day.”
The event includes ‘Dissemination Workshop’ on June 7 that would empower around 400 caregivers. The attendees would get an insight on the surveys conducted in Nepal and worldwide.
An estimated 80,000 Nepali suffer from Cerebral Palsy (CP), a disorder caused by injury of brain that results in severe physical disability and cognitive ailments.Although the cure of this disease is unknown, every child suffering with this condition has specific needs and has to be looked after perpetually.
Affected children require special methods of teaching such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, or sensory integration that are rarely available under one roof.
A survey conducted by Cerebral Palsy Nepal, among 390 caregivers in Kathmandu, shows around 69 percent have health problems - mental as well as physical due to the stress and arduous physical work of carrying and tending for their children.
Manju Maharjan, a mother and a carer from Dhapakhel, said carers feel excluded from societies because they remain inactive outside.“We face discrimination in various places such as schools where the administrators are unwilling to accept such children,” said Maharjan.