Dental Screening to Mark World Cerebral Palsy Day

Accra, Oct 07, GNA - Share Care Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, that advocates for people with autoimmune diseases on Wednesday organized a free dental screening for children with disabilities and their families to commemorate World Cerebral Palsy (CP) Day.

Over 50 children with disabilities and their families were screened by the University of Ghana Dental School and those needing treatment were immediately treated.

Ms Araba Moses, Final year Dental Student, who educated parents and caregivers about the need to take care of their children's teeth, said the screening was part of their community dentistry requirement that prepares them on how to deal with various communities.

She explained that they chose children with special needs and their families because caregivers usually had a hard time trying to maintain their oral health.

'These children are not like the other children who can just pick up brushing of teeth, in their case they need to be helped,' she said, and advised parents to regularly clean their children's teeth with salty water and cotton wool if it became difficult doing it with the tooth brush.

Ms Moses further advised parents and caregivers to visit the dentist at least twice in a year to ensure good oral hygiene for their children.

A mother of a three year old CP child, who gave her name only as Malwine, shared her experiences with the GNA, and advised the society to be receptive to children with Cerebral Palsy and those with special needs.

She said: 'I felt rejected by the society, my family and friends, because I had a CP child but it is through no fault of mine or the child, and I am determined to go the whole length with my boy.'

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Founder of the Special Mothers Project, a project that seeks to reach out and encourage mothers with Cerebral Palsy children, also advised mothers with CP children to become advocates for their children.

'Mothers of children with CP should learn to celebrate their children and be proud of them, those children have special abilities and they need society to exhibit it,' she added.

GNA