CISA REPORT:
LOMÉ, June 22, 2012 (CISA)- Fear, shame and deep-rooted cultural traditions continue to marginalize disabled children in Togo, as they are often ridiculed, locked up, hidden and neglected, cutting them off from normal life.
According to Christian Blind Mission (CBM), an international organization to assist the disabled, about 378 thousand children are disabled out of a population of six million inhabitants. In smaller villages, such situations are magnified by the reactions of neighbours forcing the disabled to remain locked in houses to avoid being seen, mocked and insulted for their deformities.
On the occasion of the recent celebration of African Child Day, a warning was launched not to neglect disabled children, discriminate or use violence against them. Few attend school and receive the education they need. Changing entrenched cultural traditions of the country is very difficult, but the families whose children have been helped well know that they should not exclude them from everyday life.
In 2011 the Government of Togo ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and is aware of the difficulties the disabled face. However, it must still determine serious measures to help counter the popular belief. In Africa, between 5 and 10% of children have disabilities, primarily due to genetic causes and complications during childbirth, from diseases such as polio, measles, meningitis and cerebral malaria, as well as for lack of food and poor health care.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS AFRICA
According to Christian Blind Mission (CBM), an international organization to assist the disabled, about 378 thousand children are disabled out of a population of six million inhabitants. In smaller villages, such situations are magnified by the reactions of neighbours forcing the disabled to remain locked in houses to avoid being seen, mocked and insulted for their deformities.
On the occasion of the recent celebration of African Child Day, a warning was launched not to neglect disabled children, discriminate or use violence against them. Few attend school and receive the education they need. Changing entrenched cultural traditions of the country is very difficult, but the families whose children have been helped well know that they should not exclude them from everyday life.
In 2011 the Government of Togo ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and is aware of the difficulties the disabled face. However, it must still determine serious measures to help counter the popular belief. In Africa, between 5 and 10% of children have disabilities, primarily due to genetic causes and complications during childbirth, from diseases such as polio, measles, meningitis and cerebral malaria, as well as for lack of food and poor health care.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS AFRICA
Comments