Aga Khan University Medical College's department of obstetrics and gynaecology, the children’s hospital (AKUH) and the team of child development and rehabilitation centre marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to raise awareness about children with disabilities and their right to dignity and social inclusivity.
Every year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed across the world to spread awareness about the problems of people with disabilities and to mobilise support for their well-being and welfare. “Inclusion, equitable access to education and nurturing is a right of all children regardless of their abilities,” said Dr Shelina Bhamani, parenting education lead at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology.
This year’s theme is Building Back Better: Toward a disability inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world. Among other key messages, the 2020 theme sheds light on the provision of accessible healthcare facilities for people with special needs such as access to appropriate handwashing facilities, personal protective equipment, access to healthcare providers and online schooling system. “It is essential to have programmes offered by both educational and health sectors that cater to children and families with special needs so their socialisation within the community can be improved.” shares Dr. Lumaan Sheikh, chairperson of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Additionally, this year’s policy framework also aims to focus on violence against people with disabilities.
On this day, AKU faculty and experts said that needs of special children can be addressed by raising awareness at the prenatal stage during pregnancy and in early childhood. In families with inherited conditions, counseling, early genetic screening and understanding disease progression is a core part of pregnancy management and can help in making informed decisions in future, experts said. In other cases, early screening and childhood interventions are evidence-based methods of improving life outcomes, especially in instances where inherited conditions are suspected.
AKU’s division of women and child health is best positioned to offer genetic screening, prenatal sensitisation for parents, and early screening and intervention services. The multidisciplinary team of childcare comprises of developmental paediatricians, medical geneticists, genetic counsellors, psychologists, early childhood developmental practitioners, occupations and speech therapists. Dr Salman Kirmani, chair of the division of women and child health, Dr Sidra Kaleem, assistant professor at the department of paediatrics and child health stressed on the need of incorporating advocacy messages with early screening and interventions to make significant improvements in the lives of children with special needs.