Head of Programs at RISE-Ghana, an NGO based in the Upper East Region, Jawaratu Amadu, is urging members of the public to desist from stigmatizing children with special needs and their parents.
This, according to her, does not augur well in the provision of supportive care for these children and their parents.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Go North medical outreach program, which commenced on Wednesday July 31, 2024, she narrated that it is worrying how many appear to be stigmatizing such children and their parents.
“If you see a child not to be normal you can lend a helping hand to the parent. There are times where you see the parent carrying the child even on the market and some who understand would help to take care of the child,” she stated.
Aside the issue of stigmatization which is of concern, she has observed an existing gap in the education of children with special needs.
It is her hope that the Ghana Education Service will train teachers to able to provide the needed supportive care for children with Special Needs.
“You go to these schools and the teachers in the school don’t have the capacity to even understand the child let alone to take care of the child so the child is just there to keep him away from the parent for some time and roaming sometimes.”
She added, “so what we would be advocating for is if generally GES can have an in-service training for all teachers to have basic knowledge on special education, how to take care of the special children especially in our early childhood.”
The Go North medical outreach is being spearheaded by the Meeidik Smilehub Foundation in partnership with the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies, Klicks Africa, Mission Pediatrics, Liana Therapy Center, and RISE Ghana.
