newznew (Chandigarh) : Children with Down Syndrome and their families were felicitated on the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), which is observed on 21 March every year, as a global awareness day, officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
The event was held at Chandigarh Judicial Academy, Sector 43 here. The Department of Psychiatry GMCH, Sector 32 along with GRIID (Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities) had collaborated with State Legal Service Authority Chandigarh, Chandigarh Down Syndrome Society and Dialogue Highway in bringing together all the stake holders of Down’s syndrome on one platform with the sole objective to make Chandigarh a Down’s syndrome friendly city and later initiate a campaign to make Chandigarh Down Syndrome free city.
Children with Down SyndromeChildren with Down Syndrome and their families were felicitated in the presence of Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh-cum- Executive Chairman, SLSA, UT, Chandigarh who was the Chief Guest. The event was marked with a Carnival for Down Syndrome Children, followed by a panel discussion consisting of expert panel of doctors.
While speaking at the Valedictory Function, Justice Kant said, “It will be the joint effort of all relevant departments to join hands and make Chandigarh Down Syndrome Free.”
He said, the estimated incidence of Down Syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder. In India, since we have a very higher birth rate, the occurrence of DS is also equally high.
Dr. B.S. Chavan, President, Chandigarh Down Syndrome Society and Joint Director, GRIID (Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities), presented a brief report on the facilities offered by GRIID and while speaking on the occasion said, Down Syndrome is the most prevalent genetic disorder of chromosomal abnormality among infants. The general masses usually confuse themselves between people with mental illness and people with intellectual disabilities like Down Syndrome. There is usually a tendency to shirk away instead of interaction. Dr Chavan talked about the steps to narrow down this gap through GRIID -a self sufficient institute for such children.
Dr. Chavan also emphasised that GRIID has already enrolled 280 children from Chandigarh and neighbouring states with Down Syndrome through the weekly Down Syndrome Clinic being run at GRIID regularly. GMCH-32 has agreed to provide free investigations and surgical and medical management of all the patients coming to this clinic. He said six departments of GMCH -32 have designated faculty from departments of ENT, Eye, Cardiology, Dentistry, Psychiatry and Orthopaedics to cater to the needs of people with Down Syndrome with fixed days for preferential treatment.
A song was presented on the occasion by children suffering from Down Syndrome and their parents. They also gave a tremendous Bhangra performance.
Dr. Inusha from Early intervention program PGIMER, Chandigarh, while speaking on the occasion talked about how PGI has been able to help parents with children with Down syndrome through their early intervention programme.
Dr. Gurjit Kaur, Physiologist, GMCH-32 Chandigarh, the pioneer in setting up prenatal screening program in Chandigarh shared her experiences of prenatal screening program in Chandigarh .
Dr. Savita Sapra, Clinical Psychologist, AIIMS, New Delhi, enlightened how the expertise fits into the overall management of a child with Down Syndrome. She also talked about how exactly should parents be counselled when they are told for the first time that their child has Down Syndrome.
Those who were there in panel discussion included, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, Advisor, Dr Arun Singh, Dr BS Chavan, Joint Director, GRIID, Dr Inusha, Early Intervention Program, PGIMER and Dr Gurjit Kaur, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, GMCH and Vice President, Chandigarh Down Syndrome Society, Dr Savita, Clinical Psychologist, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr. Manjeet Talwar, Pedodontist, GMCH, Director School Education (DPI), Chandigarh, Director Health Services, Chandigarh, Director Health services, Chandigarh (as a ophthalmologist), Dr. PN Gupta (Orthopaedic, GMCH-32 Chandigarh), Director GMCH-32, Chandigarh, DT. Shreya, Chandigarh (PGDPGN), Representative for Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, Social Welfare, Chandigarh, and Dr Wasim Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Special Education (MR).
Welcome note of the valedictory function was delivered by Amarinder Sharma, CJM-Secretary, DLSA, UT, Chandigarh(Representative Legal Services Authority). Ms Reeta Kohli (Trustee Dialogue Highway), also spoke on the occasion, while Vote of Thanks was given by Dr Gurjit Kaur (Vice-President Chandigarh Down Syndrome Society).
