‘People with down syndrome should not be stigmatised’

Wilbrought Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Down Syndrome Association (ZDSA) has called on parents and guardians of people with down-syndrome to make an effort in understanding their needs and embracing their capabilities, saying stigmatising them hinders policy formulation and inclusive development.

The call was made at an advocacy training workshop for people with down syndrome and their parents and guardians held in Bulawayo last week where children with down syndrome were capacitated on self-advocacy and encouraged to speak out on the issues that affect them.

ZDSA Director Ms Sibonisiwe Mazula said the  reason for the workshop was to give awareness to the community especially to the parents with children with the condition to allow the children to be heard and to meet their demands.

“This workshop is motivated by the realisation that the community has little knowledge on people with this condition and even if some of them are aware, they underestimate the capabilities of people with down syndrome.

Sometimes they are not taken seriously in terms of their needs and that is why we saw it fit to conduct this workshop in order for parents to advocate for their children’s social requirements, in case they can’t stand up for themselves,” said Ms Mazula.

Ms Mazula said families and communities also tend to stigmatise people with the condition and the workshop was an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of caring and respecting that group of vulnerable people. She admitted the fact that little attention had been given to the condition saying the workshop was the first of its kind by their organisation.

“We have done other workshops on sexual reproductive health and HIV and Aids but this particular one was the first time being done by us,” added Ms Mazula.

Zimbabwe Sports Association for the Disabled Mr Johanne Marufu said the workshop assisted in capacitating parents and people with down syndrome on the importance of speaking out for themselves on issues that affect them and for the parents to allow the children to express themselves despite their conditions.

“Down syndrome is a lifelong condition that needs attention in order to assist children to improve their ability to express themselves and also help them reach their full potential. We conducted this advocacy workshop to train both children and especially parents to give attention to children with down syndrome and allow them to express themselves and have their opinions considered in decision-making.

We also want to boost their self-esteem and confidence, if they feel like they need to say something, they must do so without any hesitation that their opinion or suggestions will be rejected,” said Mr Marufu.