Cerebral Palsy: Stakeholders calls for support to ease burden on caregivers

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Stakeholders in Child development has called for support for parents and caregivers of children with Cerebral Palsy to ease burdens on them.

The stakeholders made the call on Friday at the 2024 World Cerebral Palsy Day organised by Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative.

Mr Alfred Abegunde, the Former Director, Physiotherapy Unit, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital said collaborative work between parents, government and families could help them achieve their potentials.

Having played a pivotal role in the life of Ifeoluwa Anishe, the founder of Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative, Mr Abegunde said the importance of inclusive healthcare and rehabilitation cannot be over emphasised.

He said early interventions by the caregivers and focus on ability and not disability would also help cerebral palsy champions navigate school environments and activities.

Prof. Mary Esere of the Department of Counselling Education, University of Ilorin, while delivering the keynote address urged the cerebral palsy champions to believe in, and stop seeing themselves as less humans.

She called on parents of champions to stop locking them indoors, but help them discover their talents and build them.

Mr Anishe said the Initiative was formed to raise more advocacy and awareness on cerebral palsy and also seek for support for champions.

The Initiative founder, who is a Masters Degrees holder in Counselling Education at the University of Ilorin, said he wants every champion to be supported to achieve their dreams just like he has done.

He also called for the establishment of schools that would take care of champions and attend to their physical and emotional needs.

Mr Anishe also called on the government and private individuals to give cerebral palsy individuals employment opportunities.

A parent of a champion, Mrs Shukurat Afolabi called on the government to help subsidise physiotherapy services and engage the services of more physiotherapists.

She also called for establishment of schools with educationists that understands the plight of the champions and would be able to tolerate them.

The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Nnafatima Imam said the government would push hard to ensure that champions are given attention.

She said all complaints of the parents were duly noted and necessary action would be taken as soon as possible.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder affecting movement, posture and muscle coordination.

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