KARACHI: Experts stressed the need for inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in all spheres of life and enhancing their social acceptability, besides increasing awareness about the condition at a seminar.
The seminar was organised here by the Pakistan Down Syndrome Association (PDSA), in collaboration with the National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) and Human Rights Department Government of Sindh to mark 21st March as the World Down Syndrome Day 2023.
NDF president and PDSA Chief Executive Officer Abid Lashari in his address highlighted the importance of the day and its theme for this year – ‘With Us, Not for Us’.
The World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), now globally marked to create awareness on the issue, was first officially observed by the United Nations (UN) in 2012.
The WDSD is marked on the 21st day of the 3rd month every year to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Unfortunately, Pakistan has limited facilities for the children with Down Syndrome, the social acceptance required to engage them in all spheres of life.
Experts deplored that the people with Down Syndrome are denied a quality education, good health care, chances to earn livelihood, and are not allowed to make decisions about their own lives, as their voice is muffled. So, on 21 March the activists raised a single global voice, advocating for their rights, inclusion and well-being, they added.
They stressed the need to engage all stakeholders for the World Down Syndrome Day advocacy.
Jhamin Das Regional Director, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), said the Down Syndrome has been recognised as a separate category in the Disability Act 2018 as such children are not mentally retarded, but only need improved conditions, care and attention through rehabilitation services, to be mainstreamed.
The regional director said DEPD Rehabilitation Centres and some NGOs like NDF, PDSA, KDSP, APHA and others were engaged in providing their services to the children with Down Syndrome.
Jameel Junejo, Focal Person Human Rights, said disability rights are human rights, and should be protected and promoted by all.
Salman A Siddiqui, General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sui Southern Gas Company said that SSGC believes in social responsibility to protect disability rights, especially of the people with Down Syndrome. Persons with Down Syndrome have potential to deliver in the mainstream social sector,he added and appreciated NDF and PDSA rehabilitation services in Nawabshah and Larkana.
Nishat General Secretary APHA and Dr Talib Lashari, Sindh Health Department Technical Advisor, said the Down Syndrome Children must be accepted at all levels and their slow race was not an obstacle as they could be brought into the mainstream through care and understanding.
Ghulam Nabi Nizamani said Down Syndrome was named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who first described the syndrome as a disorder in 1866.
Nuzhat Shireen said the girls with Down Syndrome needed special care.
Kiran Zubair said the research is lacking in the disability sector and data needed to be collected for proper planning to address the issue.