Childhood disability rises in Noorpur Thal

About 200 children in tehsil have been born with a special need

NOORPUR THAL:

Births of children with disabilities in Tehsil Noorpur Thal are reported to have reached alarming levels. While the society considers mentally and physically challenged children a burden, it is extremely difficult for parents to train them for their future.

There are houses in Noorpur Thal with up to six children of a couple born with mental problems.

According to data collected at the tehsil level, there are about 200 children in the tehsil at present who were born with a disability.

The government has set up a Special Education Centre to educate such children and give them a higher place in the society. At least 104 children are currently studying in the centre.

When contacted to find out the cause of the birth of children with disabilities, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Amir Omar said, “The common cause of birth of such children is cousin marriage. People here prefer to get married within the family and due to the resulting complications, children are born with disabilities.” He said that the issue can be overcome if parents marry their children into other families.

The parents said that the care of a child with a congenital disability is required many times more than that of normal children.

Muhammad Ismail, a father of six disabled girls, said, “I have to work with my wife to take care of my daughters due to which sometimes it is not possible to go out to work. They face many difficulties for their livelihood, including consuming food and drink.”

Another father, Mohammad Kausar, said, "My daughter is now 12 years old, but she can't walk or eat anything on her own and we have to help her eat."

Efforts are made by the locals to meet the needs of such children but there is no stipend or treatment facility from the government.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2021.