A local health advocacy NGO known as Centre for Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Autism (CEDOSSA) has called for more civic education on Down Syndrome disease, pointing out that people with the condition are still facing discrimination.
Speaking to MBC, Executive Director for CEDOSSA, Lauryn Sulani, said the communal and societal awareness of Down syndrome will not only help in changing people’s perception about the condition but also help in equipping people with knowledge of how to handle the condition at an early stage.
Sulani urged the inclusion of people with Down syndrome and similar conditions in all national programming, ensuring they have equal access to their rights and opportunities.
Malawi has 130,000 people with Down syndrome and a related condition — autism, which are developmental disabilities caused by deficiencies in the brain.
By Alufisha Fischer
