By Nana Ama Gyapong.
Dr. Seyram Wordui, a Pediatrician at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital and CEO of Baby Child and Co., says that certain disabilities amongst children are not detected early enough by healthcare workers because of the fear of stigmatization on the part of parents.
She said this during the Health Segment on the GTV Breakfast Show.
A developmental delay refers to a child who has not gained the developmental skills expected of him or her, compared to others of the same age, according to Experts.
Delays may occur in the areas of motor function, speech and language, cognitive, play, and social skills.
Dr. Seyram explained that elsewhere when a child has some disabilities, special care is given to them, making it easier for the child’s parents to disclose the health conditions of their children.
But, in Africa some parents either blame the defects on spirituality and, in other instances, some fathers disown their children leading to stigmatization which makes mothers hide their children till the situation sometimes gets out of hand.
Describing the causes of developmental delay, Dr. Wordui asserted that complications from childbirth or the intake of alcohol by mothers during pregnancy.
When that happens, it delays the child’s speech and language impairment.
She concluded by urging individuals to stop the stigmatization against children living with disabilities and urged government institutions to consider the cost involved in the healthcare of persons living with such disabilities to enable them to treat it early so that these Special Children do not feel left out in society.
Developmental Delays in Children #GTVBreakfast https://t.co/Qu5PnXWwVn
— Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (@thegbcghana) December 15, 2021
