(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) As the world marks Down Syndrome Day on Friday, concerns have been raised over the lack of special facilities for those affected with the condition in the sultanate.
Ahmed Mohammed Hamad al Jabri, chairman of the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group (DSPSG), said that 1,428 children were registered as being affected by Down Syndrome at the Ministry of Health (MoH) from 2005 to 2010. ''Several cases went unidentified due to lack of awareness or were brushed under the carpet as it is considered to be a taboo subject in the country,'' he said.
Jabri, the father of a child with Down Syndrome, said that DSPSG has been struggling to gain legal status in the country. ''We had submitted all the necessary documents for the formation of an association in 2006. We had also got approval from the governor of Muscat in 2010. However, we were later told that the numbers were not big enough to start an association.
''According to MoH statistics, 90 to 120 children are born with Down Syndrome every year in Oman. This is double than what is in the developed countries, where out of 800, one has Down Syndrome. In Oman, one child out of every 400 has it. There are no special schools, education plan, teachers or facilities for these children.''
DSPSG, a group comprising parents of children affected with Down Syndrome, has a team of seven experts, consisting of two physiotherapists, three speech therapists, a teacher for special learning and a supervisor.
A Ministry of Education (MoE) official has confirmed that as of now, there are no special schools for children with Down Syndrome in Oman. Najma al Balushi, supervisor for special education programmes, MoE said, ''We have separate schools for the blind, those with hearing disabilities and those with autism. But, there is no school for children with Down Syndrome.''
Salim Abdullah al Yahmadi, assistant director of department of associations and social clubs, Ministry of Special Development, said, ''We are in the final stages of getting the approval for an association.''
Parents have also raised concerns of children with the condition facing discrimination at private schools. Zuwaina Hilal al Barwani, a mother said, ''The biggest problem is there is no basic education plan for these children. My biggest fear is that my daughter, who is a teenager now, will be bullied or harassed if I leave her alone.''
Jabri said, ''I made my son switch three schools. On several occasions he was harassed. There was an instance where authorities insisted on separating the child from other students and gave a 60 page exam to reach the next level. These children need guidance to be self dependent.''
What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It is one of the most common genetic causes of learning disability. The condition is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 in a baby's cells. It occurs by chance at conception and is irreversible. As yet, no one knows what causes the presence of the extra chromosome 21. It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features and mild to moderate intellectual di
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