The United Nations General Assembly declared 21st March in
December 2011 as the World Down Syndrome Day and the first was commemorated in
March 21st, 2012.
This important day seeks to raise awareness, mobilize support and recognition of dignity, rights, and well-being of persons living with Down Syndrome across the world.
The theme of this year is; “CONNECT” focusing on improving
connections to ensure all people living with Down Syndrome can connect and
participate on an equal basis with others.
We connect to share ideas, experiences, establish, maintain
and improve quality of life. We need to connect to protect and promote the
civil rights of people living with Down Syndrome.
This year RADA is raising the following points of awareness
to the public:
- Down Syndrome is a non-communicable disease. It is not under the prism of several others
not categorized in the WHO five by 5 matrix. - It Is important to understand the risk factors
and prevention of Down Syndrome - How important it is that persons living with
Down Syndrome are connected with persons living without it
The following are the risk factors of Down Syndrome?
- Advancing maternal age; That is usually women of
the age 35 and above - Women who already have one child with Down
Syndrome (increased risk for subsequent pregnancies). - Parents who are carriers of the genetic
translocation for Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome is not a disease or an illness that can be prevented but the following steps can be taken to help reduce the risk;
1. Mothers can take steps before and during pregnancy to have healthy pregnancy or visit a genetic counsellor before pregnancy to know your chances of having a child with Down Syndrome.
2. Avoid late reproduction, anyone can under-take to complete their family at a relatively young age (below 35 of age) and the risk of an affected pregnancy will remain but could be substantially reduced.
3. Pregnant mothers should avoid smoking and drinking of alcohol during pregnancy.
4. Parents at high risk of Down Syndrome should take daily multivitamin like folic acid.
Do you know of a person or persons living with Down Syndrome? Do you know how to connect with them? If No, the following tips should help you connect freely:
Down syndrome has a genetic origin and cannot therefore be transmissible from one person to another. Even though one might think that because it is genetic, this means that it is passed from one parent to the child. This is not what this means. One child in the same family can have and another won’t have. It is not transmissible, so you can relate without fear or stigma.
Family members play an important role in loving and encouraging persons living with Down Syndrome. We encourage family members to show that they love and care. They are the first to show that People Living with Down syndrome can add value to themselves and the society in which they live.
We need to treat people living with Down Syndrome as friends and see them first as persons with unique personalities, rather than persons in need. If not, we cannot properly meet their needs. We therefore need to recognize that they need access to education and leisure activities.
Article by: Kebuh Sandrine, Ntam Damaris, Ferdinant M. Sonyuy.
1 thought on “WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 2021.”
We need more of such awareness on such days. Thank you RADA