Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (LNFOD), together with Physiotherapy and Outreach Program Lesotho (POP) and its partner organization Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Association Lesotho, held a one-day stakeholder’s training in commemoration of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day last Friday.
The day is celebrated annually on March 25. The training was to provide communities with a platform to share their stories as well as to create multi-sectoral relations for advocacy purposes on issues that affect children with Cerebral Palsy in Lesotho.
Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is the most common motor disability in children.
Changes in muscle tone and movement are the main characteristics, impairing functionality, hindering independence and interfering with the affected person’s quality of life.
Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Lesotho Chairperson Itumeleng Mohasi stated that one of the main reasons of establishing Mo-Rate was to raise awareness on the existence of children with cerebral palsy.
She explained that children with cerebral palsy should not be hidden and their needs should be addressed either through provision of quality health care and provision of assistive devices as their needs are very diverse and unique.
“We urge the government and different stakeholders to consider children with cerebral palsy in decision making, especially in addressing some of the challenges the parents and children with cerebral palsy face,” she said.
As per Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Association Lesotho Database, currently there are 134 children with cerebral palsy in the 10 districts of Lesotho whom they are directly working with.
According to their database, the highest district with children with cerebral palsy is Leribe with prevalence of 45 children followed by Maseru with 34, Botha-Bothe with 18, Qacha’s Nek 17, Mafeteng 12, Mohale’s hoek 11, Thaba-Tseka 10, Berea 7 and Mokhotlong 3, while Quthing is being investigated.
LNFOD Executive Director Nkhasi Sefuthi commented that the noble cause showed the strength of collaboration between different stakeholders on raising awareness on cerebral palsy.
“This came at the opportune time whereby the federation is working together with the government of Lesotho and development partners as well as relevant stakeholders to raise awareness through trainings on the importance of Inclusive Education, ensuring that children with cerebral palsy access quality education in Lesotho,” he noted.
He concluded that the training also reflected a warm relationship between LNFOD, POP and Mo-Rate Cerebral Palsy Association in creating a space they can collectively work together on to see the implementation of Persons with Disability Act which was enacted in order to provide for equal opportunities and recognition of rights of persons living with disabilities in Lesotho.
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