THE MINISTER of Social Development ’Matebatso Doti has pledged to ensure the enactment of Persons with Disability Equity Bill so that needs of people with disabilities are also addressed.
health
Oct. 3, 2020
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Doti pledges to ensure enactment of Disability Bill
The Minister of Social Development ’Matebatso Doti
This, she said on Friday during the commemoration of the World Cerebral Palsy Day by the Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Association of Lesotho.
Cerebral palsy is a life-long disability affecting around 17 million people throughout the world. At this time there is no known cure. It is a complex disability that can vary in effect from one individual to another with symptoms ranging from weakness in one hand to a complete lack of voluntary movement throughout the body.
Mrs Doti said as soon as the Bill is enacted, parents of children with the condition will get a grant which will help them purchase essentials for their children.
She commended parents of children with cerebral palsy for uniting against the condition, adding that although raising such children is expensive, they have the advantage of growing near their parents.
Deputy Chairperson of Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Association of Lesotho, ’Matebatso Thatho said they decided to commemorate the day along with the association's launch in order to raise awareness of the condition.
She said they also wanted to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy are not discriminated against and receive the same rights and opportunities as the rest of the society.
“We also wanted to celebrate the lives and achievements of those who suffer from cerebral palsy and the individuals and the organisations that support them,” Mrs Thato said.
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One of the parents ’Mabohlokoa Ponya said it is challenging to raise a child with the condition, adding that the signs of cerebral palsy usually appear in the first few months of life although most children do not get diagnosed until the age of two or later.
The early signs of the condition include developmental delays whereby the child is slow to reach milestones such as rolling over, sitting, crawling and walking.
Launched in 2012 by Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia and United Cerebral Palsy in the USA, World Cerebral Palsy Day is now organised by the World Cerebral Palsy Initiative, a non-profit organisation made up of cerebral palsy organisations throughout the world.
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