African Child Day 2021: Parents, care givers and leaders should let children with disabilities enjoy their rights

By The Inspirer Writer.

All over the world, a child is born dependant and is a vulnerable human being that deserves care and support. However, many children in Africa who were born with disabilities are still facing stigma and discrimination coupled with a miserable life where their parents quarrel and fail to provide for the family dependants.

These children are hidden in the houses until when it is revealed but, late when no quick interventions can save the maximum of wellbeing of the vulnerable child with disability who was hidden for a couple of years. See Kinyarwanda article as per Kigali Today Source: https://www.kigalitoday.com/amakuru/amakuru-mu-rwanda/article/nyundo-habonetse-umwana-umaze-imyaka-itanu-afungiranye-mu-nzu

The case is a child found in Nyundo sector, Rubavu district this week with severe disability status after five years hidden by his parents in the house.

This year’s African Child Day theme states that: “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural practices affecting children: our collective responsibility”. The theme calls up on parents, teachers, educators, care givers, members of the community, leaders and everyone responsible for child rights to avoid, prevent and eliminate any harmful social and cultural practices that can affect children at all cost.

The UNESCO’s Innocenti Digest No. 13 research paper on Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities states that “Because of the high degree of stigma associated with disability in certain countries, parents and other family members may be reluctant to report that their child has a disability. Often these children have not even had their birth registered, with the result that they are not known to health, social services or schools.”

The paper also states that in countries where literacy rates are low and children frequently receive no formal schooling, some learning disabilities (such as dyslexia) may never be identified. In countries where diagnosis is more advanced and the likelihood of survival is greater or where state benefits are available to support persons with disabilities, there is a greater incentive to register a child’s disability, thus contributing to a higher recorded prevalence of disability.