The 12th World Congress on Down Syndrome was not just about statistics, Rahul Sadhu reports
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot (Photo: bjpmp.org)
Chennai: The 12th World Down’s Syndrome Congress concluded on Friday with resolutions of the Congress being handed over to the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Thawaar Chand Gehlot.
Some of the key resolutions of the Congress focused upon the need for educational equality, employment opportunities, better health care, importance of health insurance for those with Down’s syndrome and the introduction of medical passport.
The medical passport is of importance because it is a handbook containing details about the individual’s milestone stages of developments and improvements and can also help in case of emergencies.
Speaking at the Congress, the Union Minister said, “The government is committed towards betterment of people with Down’s syndrome and will focus upon inclusive education, financial independence. We will increase the number of disabilities from 7 to 19 and are also working on bringing in a new legislation that will empower those with Down’s syndrome”. He said the government will act on recommendations received at the Congress.
“WDSC 2015 was a great opportunity in creating awareness, acceptance, education, visibility and medical facilities for people with intellectual changes. It will definitely help to raise the profile of people with Down’s Syndrome in India,” Dr Surekha Ramachandran, President of Down’s Syndrome International said.
Growth charts vital to track disease
About 23,000 to 29,000 children born in India every year are diagnosed with Down Syndrome, with the incidence of 1: 600 – 1000 live births. “Hence, the importance of keeping a growth chart becomes extremely vital,” said Dr Priya Chandrasekhar, consultant paediatrician, Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu.
Growth Charts are used to monitor growth of infants from birth to 5 years of age and consist of a series of percentile curves that illustrate the distribution of selected body measurements in children.
Speaking on the Indian scenario, she said there are no condition specific growth charts available and deemed it as a burning necessity as there is a higher incidence of children with Down Syndrome. It is also a valuable clinical tool for pediatricians and helps in early diagnosis of abnormalities and helps in early identification of nutritional requirements, she said.
“They see individuals on an outpatient basis and there is no maintenance of records. In India it is extremely difficult to get data. For those with Down Syndrome we need a specific one, as their growth is not like normal children. In the UK there is a centralised health registry but here it is absent,” said Dr Chandrasekhar. Such a growth chart can go a long way in helping those diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Dr S. Suresh, Mediscan Director, said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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