Parents with cerebral palsy children told to be patient

Mrs Lydia Bedwei, Mother of Farida Bedwei, a successful IT entrepreneur with Cerebral Palsy has advised parents of children with the disorder to learn to exercise a lot of patience in caring for the children.

She also advised parents to learn the various types of physiotherapy done with their children by professionals and inculcate it into their daily lives, emphasizing the need to involve the whole family in the therapy programmes.

Mrs Bedwei said this at a workshop organised over the weekend for over 30 parents with Cerebral Palsy children to enable them learn basics in physiotherapy and encourage networking among parents

The workshop organized by Sharecare Ghana, an association of people with autoimmune and neurological conditions, in collaboration with the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy programme on Cerebral Palsy, also served as a skill learning platform for professionals and parents to interact.

Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder caused by brain injury or malformation while the child’s brain is developing. Cerebral Palsy affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, and sometimes the speech of the child.

Mrs Bedwei said: “Sometimes it is good to take your mind of result and work with the children as if you are doing it for God, know that the child is part of you and after a long time light shines”

She also advised parents with Cerebral Palsy children to build a routine, like therapy time, feeding time, sleep time, etc for the children, explaining that it helps the children as well as the parents to have an independent life

Another aim of the programme which was supported by Diligent Care Services, a UK-based organization passionate about helping parents of children with Cerebral Palsy in Ghana and the  Accra Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic was to empower parents with knowledge on Cerebral Palsy  and equip them to manage their children have an enhanced life.

Mr. Augustine Acquah, a physiotherapist at the Accra Physiotherapy Clinic took the parents through basic and practical physiotherapy techniques that could be done at home.

A dietician, Ms. Ruth Nyarko, also educated parents on the right combination of nutritious food to feed children with Cerebral Palsy.

The programme also offered a platform for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy to network and share experiences.