Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) yesterday joined international activities to encourage people with Down Syndrome to say what matters to them and how to help improve their lives.
It was part of the activities to mark the World Down Syndrome Day, where the voice of people with Down Syndrome, and those who work and live with them, were heard louder. Many shared their stories on social media with the hashtag #MyVoiceMyCommunity.
HMC while encouraging to share the stories of people with Down Syndrome released a short video on their Facebook page. It narrates as the voice of the child is heard. It begins with saying, “My mum, I can see a new world with people,” and ends saying “I feel my voice is heard.” The video also shows how children with Down Syndrome play, study, go to school, associate with the community and live a normal life.
HMC also aimed at spreading awareness under the banner, ‘Encouraging people with Down Syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action to be fully included in the community.’
World Down Syndrome Day encouraged people across the globe to choose activities and events that will raise awareness of what Down Syndrome is, what it means to have the condition, and how people with Down Syndrome play a vital role in lives.
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that is caused by an error in cell division which results in an extra 21st chromosome. The condition leads to impaired cognitive ability and physical growth. The estimated incidence of Down Syndrome is between one in 1,000 to one in 1,100 live births worldwide.
Each person with Down Syndrome is affected differently, but most will have a number of physical characteristics and developmental problems.
