Ghana joins the world to mark World CP Day

 

Ghana will join the world to observe World CP Day on Thursday, 6^th October, 2022

World CP Day is used to celebrate and support those living with cerebral palsy, embrace diversity and to help create a more accessible future for everyone.

“There are over 1 billion people around the world who live with a disability. Yet we still navigate a world that is not designed to be accessible,” the World CP Day Organisation says.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects the movement and sometimes the speech of a person. It is considered the number one cause of disability in childhood

There are more than 17 million people across the world living with cerebral palsy. Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with cerebral palsy.

 It is the most common physical disability in childhood. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that affects movement. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand, to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement.

It is a complex disability: 1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy cannot talk, 1 in 4 cannot walk, 1 in 2 have an intellectual disability, 1 in 4 have epilepsy.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disability and there is no known cure.

Cerebral palsy is one of the least understood disabilities and people with cerebral palsy are often out of sight, out of mind and out of options in communities around the world. 

In Ghana, members of the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues will take to social media to educate the public about cerebral palsy and the need for government to formulate policies that supports children with cerebral palsy and their families.

The Centre for Learning and Childhood Disabilities (CLCD) will also organise a free health screening exercise for children with cerebral palsy on the 8^th of October to mark the day.

Cerebral Palsy Awareness, another organization championing CP issues will celebrate the day with families at the Shai-Osudoku Health Directorate

World Cerebral Palsy Day on 6 October was created by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in 2012 and now brings together people living with cerebral palsy, their families, allies, supporters and organisations across more than 100 countries

The aim to ensure a future in which children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society.

The theme for the celebration is: Millions of Reasons

I want to put smiles on the faces of mothers with special needs children – Kampay Outfitters

 Mr Kwabena Koosono Ampem, CEO of Kampay Outfiiters, dealers in quality clothing and accessories have donated some women’s clothing to the Special Mothers Project, saying “I want to put a smile on the faces of mothers of children with special needs.”

The special Mothers Project is an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues and issues affecting families nurturing children with disabilities in Ghana.

He said he had insights into how difficult it could be nurturing a child with cerebral palsy or autism in Ghana and always yearned to support in his own small way.

Mr Koosono Ampem said he had worked with people on the autism spectrum in the states and also as a support coordinator assisting families with behavioral, programming and employment support and was willing to support the special mothers’ project with ideas in how to enhance the lives of families nurturing children with cerebral palsy and other special needs in Ghana.

His donation comes ahead of this year’s World Cerebral Palsy Day which will be observed on the 6^th of October, 2022.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Special Mothers project, expressed her gratitude, saying, “You just made Christmas come early for the special mothers.”

She called on people to be kind towards children with special needs and their families.