Battor (VR),- Mr Osborn Divine Kwadzo Fenu, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of North Tongu in the Volta Region, has reiterated the need for society to accept and embrace visually impaired children.
He said visually impaired children must be accepted and trained “if we want to help and turn their fortunes around as a people.”
Mr Fenu made the call during a sensitisation workshop, which seeks to promote early detection, proper referral, and treatment as well as appropriate care and management of children with visual impairment.
It was organised by the Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, North Tongu District.
He said efforts were being made by the Department of Children to avert the effects of visual impairment on children and ensure their optimal development.
Mr Fenu also disclosed that some officials have been trained and equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills in addressing the canker.
He said the trainees would build the capacities of parents and other stakeholders on caring for children with visual impairment by creating awareness through radio discussions on how to care for such children and the role of communities in ensuring their holistic development.
Mr Albert Henyo, District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in North Tongu, entreated parents and caregivers to ensure they integrate such children into all aspects of human activities so they could also do things on their own.
Mrs Catherine Agbotame, an Optometrists from the Battor Catholic Hospital, said it was highly important for parents to report cases of visual effects of their children for early treatment.
Mr Jeremiah Badu Shayar, Programme Coordinator and a member of Visio International, said the Department of Children with support from Royal Visio and Presbyterian Health Services, has provided a timely intervention programme called ‘Holistic Development Programme for Visually Impaired Children (HODVIC), which was aimed at providing adequate support for holistic development of children between the ages of 0- 8 with visual impairment in ensuring their full participation at home, school, and the community at large.
Jedidia Abanga, a representative from Presbyterian Health Services, indicated, part of their activities focuses on dealing with children with visual impairment.
Present at the event were, Mr Akrobotu Israel, Regional Director of the Department of Children, Mr Christian Mawusi, the Principal Programmes Officer of Department of Children, Togbe Torkpo III, chairman of the event.
Participants were drawn from the various communities within the District.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Add Comment