Dr Saba Taj, administrator and educational consultant M.M.Model School, Kolkata, West Bengal, delves deep into the down syndrome and advocates the human and social rights of the children born with this genetic disorder.
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed on 21st March by the United Nations. This is a global awareness day that has been officially observed worldwide every year. The purpose of this day is to create awareness and to raise voice for the rights, inclusion and wellbeing of the children born with down syndrome. The United Nations and human rights organisations believe that the people with disabilities have the right to be treated fairly, respectfully and equally. They should have the same opportunities as everyone else has.
WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME AND RISK FACTORS
Down syndrome is a condition in which a baby is born with an extra chromosome.Usually, a child is born with 46 chromosomes; but the children born with this syndrome have one extra chromosome i.e.47 chromosomes. The chromosomes decide a baby’s growth and development during pregnancy as well as after birth.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder and in medical terms Down syndrome is also called trisomy 21 (as they have one extra chromosome on chromosome number 21).
This extra chromosome can cause mental as well as physical challenges for the baby. Some common physical and mental symptoms of the children born with the down syndrome are as follow: a flattened face, short neck, small ear, a tongue tends to stick out of the mouth, less developed feet and hands, poor muscles or loose joints are some common physical challenges for the babies with down syndrome. The mental challenges include mood disorders, depression, anxiety, hallucination, personality disorder, etc. They are also prone to many other diseases.
It is one of the most common genetic birth defects and one out of 800 babies are born with this disease per year. According to the United Nations, approximately 3000 to 5000 children are with down syndrome in the United States. In India approximately 13 lakh children are with down syndrome.
Although with these alarming data there is very little awareness about this disease in India. And, unfortunately, there is no cure for this genetic disorder. Although proper care and support can improve life expectancy and quality of life of babies born with one extra copy of chromosome.
Physical and mental abilities of these children can also be improved by providing support and care. In this way they can develop to their full potential and become an active part of the society. Inclusive education in schools can also help these children to improve their abilities and help them enter normal classrooms. These supportive cares can help these children to spend a normal life.
The risk factors are:Mutation, advancing maternal age, inheritance, previous history, immune disorder, etc.
RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The human rights agencies and the United Nations advocate that the children with down syndrome should have human rights equal to any other human being. They should have equal chances to access all facilities, education and medical facilities. They should get equal opportunities in society to grow and to develop.
Unfortunately, in human society a person with the disability is treated inferior and less respectfully. Most of the time they are not considered part of the society and they didn’t get the respect, support and care which they deserve as being a “differently abled person”.
The fact is that these babies are born with special or different abilities and they should be included in society by providing them a chance to use their abilities and potential.
Conclusion
The Creator of this world has created them with different abilities. The United Nations adopted a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights for the people with disabilities. It also respects their inherent dignity. Every parent who has a child with any disabilities should accept them, support them and make them an active part of the society.
Islam also advocates equal rights for all human beings.The teachings of Islam based on the Qur’ān, which was revealed over 1400 years ago to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and Hadith testify this. They say Allah the Exalted alone is the law giver and source of all human rights. He created all human beings from one soul and all human beings should be equal and none shall enjoy a privilege or suffer discrimination by any reason.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺgave the disabled people a higher self-esteem and erased their sadness, misery, and lack of confidence. He always reminded them that “verily God does not look at your bodies nor to your faces but He looks at your heart.” (Sahih Muslim)