Early intervention helps children with Down Syndrome become less dependent, says NGO

Early intervention has been recommended for children with down syndrome to help them achieve basic physical, cognitive, language, social and self-help skills that lay the foundation for future progress as they face delays in certain areas of development.

Speaking during the awareness walkathon organised by MoRainbow Foundation tagged #MovingBuddies4DownSyndrome held in Lagos recently, Founder of the Non-governmental organisation, Mrs. Tola Makinde said with early intervention, children living with down syndrome can live a normal life and live less dependent life.

“We want people to know that down syndrome is not a disease. Families who have them should not lock them up but support them from when they are being born. When a child has been diagnosed of having down syndrome, parents are meant to do what is expected to make sure the child lives a fulfilled life.”

Mrs. Makinde, who is also a mother of a child with down syndrome, said: “Early intervention is a systematic programme of therapy, exercises and activities designed to address developmental delays that may be experienced by children with Down syndrome. Parents are the first advocates for these children and they are not meant to be locked up but they should seek for help.”

She added that early intervention should begin at birth “but it is never too late to start”.
In his remark, the administrator of Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), Mr. Muyiwa Majekodunmi, said: “Early intervention can ensure they have an earlier and easier starting platform, knowing what to do in terms of early medical intervention, early educational intervention, early social integration, no matter what these children are capable of doing from the early stage, they need to engage the children early to the basic language, communication skills and social skill.”