Having suffered unrelenting scorn and stigmatisation for birthing a baby with Cerebral Palsy baby, Hannah Awadzi, is on a mission to get the attention of authorities on the motor disorder.
For three years Mrs Awadzi says her life has been a constant struggle to get society to accept her and her baby, Eyram, who was born with the neurological disorder.
“Society should allow her to have a normal life,” she said Thursday on PM Express on the Joy News channel (Multi TV).
Sharing her touching story of strength in the face of unavailable support systems she told show host Nana Ansah Kwao IV it is time for a coordinated national action towards the disorder.
Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle coordination and speech in children.
Mabel Wilson, a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician who also spoke on the programme said early detection of the disorder can help manage it.
Dr Wilson said it has become important for health authorities to chart a rigourous pathway for parents and health professionals to enable proper handling of children with the condition.
Although it is the number one cause of disability in children, there is no special clinic to care for the children, while cost of care is expensive.
Also, many schools reject children with the condition, a situation Mrs Awadzi has described as unfortunate.
She revealed that sometimes some teachers look at her and her baby with scorn. There have been reports of maltreatment of Cerebral Palsy children by some teachers.
“I’ve changed her [Eyram’s] school twice and I am even looking for a third one. I think that the teachers get tired,” she said.
Many children with Cerebral Palsy are unable to walk and need extensive care. It affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movements. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later.
Hannah Awadzi has initiated the Special Mothers Project to advocate and create awareness about the condition.
Her motivation for the creating the project is to provide assistance and support for parents and care-givers of children with Cerebral Palsy, she said.
“Because of the project I’ve met mothers with Cerebral Palsy children. I met one mother who told me 'I use to hide my child, I have tried to poison myself because I feel that I am not accepted',” she revealed.
She has advised mothers to seek immediate help when they realize that their child is not sitting within the first three months of birth.
"I hope for my daughter to have a normal life," she says.
"I hope that parents will come together and be able to speak for good policies. I am particular about education. If we do not allow these children to go to school, what becomes of them?" she quizzed.
Watch Mrs Awadzi tell her story in the video below.
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