Lending cerebral palsy patients a helping hand

PUNE: Society needs to do a lot more to support people with cerebral palsy, doctors and those suffering from the disorder said on Friday. “The real disability does not lie with patients of

cerebral palsy

(CP), but with the general society which fails to accept such people as one of us. The reality is that a majority of patients only have motor difficulties, and not intelligence issues. And every part of the society , especially parents, can play a vital role in this regard," pediatrician Sandeep Patwardhan said.

Cerebral Palsy is considered a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the child's brain is under development. Cerebral Palsy primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination. It happens in about two children per thousand live births globally. Its probability rises by about 70% in case of premature deliveries.

Patwardhan said they are now determined to spread awareness about cerebral palsy. Treatment centres for CP have already been started in

Satara and Ratnagiri

districts. These treatment centres were set up in partnership with the

CSR

arm of an industrial giant and an NGO. People with CP identified as requiring surgery and other therapy are often brought to these centres.

“Cerebral palsy is not a curable condition as it is caused due to

brain damage in many ways

at a very early stage. But with treatment, the condition is certainly manageable. With the therapy , people with CP can be reasonably independent. There is no same-for-all formula though. But parents often fail to accept the condition of CP in their children. Thus, they often miss out on crucial months of therapy ,“ Patwardhan added.

Newer therapies have emerged for the condition, like using water for exercises or use of animals like horses or therapy dogs. “They will never really replace conventional therapies like physiotherapy or surgeries, but the new therapies are helping indeed. Children feel more liberated exercising in water,“ Surabhi Date, a

paediatric physiotherapist

at the Sancheti Hospital, said.

She added that schools and other public facilities need to have enough infrastructure to assist CP patients.“Hardly any schools or railway stations have ramps, even though they exist on paper. Schools often deny admission to cerebral palsy students, which is a clear case of discrimination,“ Date said.

October 6 is observed as the World Cerebral Palsy Day.