Children with Down syndrome can lead a normal life if given the right opportunities, the necessary support and appropriate healthcare, said rehabilitation experts at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
Dr Mahmoud Obeidah, director, Child Development Centre and Rehabilitation at HMC, said his department recently organised an event featuring activities such as educational games, a doll making workshop, facial colouring, photography, henna drawing and balloons arts, to mark World Down Syndrome Day to demonstrate HMC’s keenness to enhance communication between healthcare providers and patients and their families.
“We have organised this event to bring joy and happiness to children with Down syndrome so they have a sense of belonging among their peers and know that they have equal opportunities in the community,” said Dr Obeidah.
Dr Obeidah said that the early intervention programme at Rumailah Hospital currently supports about 50 children with Down syndrome and is being followed in accordance with international standards of care.
He added that the family centred programme provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary therapeutic service to children from 0-3 years that includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. “The programme is also being supported by other services including special education, nursing and clinical psychology services according to the children’s needs.”
Fatma Mustafa, assistant director, Department of Children’s Rehabilitation at HMC, said that marking occasions like World Down Syndrome Day provides an opportunity to break down barriers and eliminate the fears and concerns of parents of children with the condition.
Dr Azhar Khattab, paediatric consultant at Rumailah Hospital, explained that Down syndrome is a set of physical and mental attributes resulting from a problem with the child’s chromosomes which arise at an early stage of development. “The children affected with Down syndrome are characterised with distinctive facial features and usually develop congenital heart diseases, respiratory disorders or other organ or body part disorders. These children may also have growth retardation and linguistic disabilities,” he said.
He added that besides providing rehabilitation services for the children, the Child Development Centre is supervised by selected physicians who regularly check the children’s heart, hearing, eyesight and thyroid function.