World Cerebral Palsy Day 2022: History, significance and prevention

World Cerebral Palsy Day 2022: World Cerebral Palsy Day is observed on October 6. Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong disability with no known cure. The day celebrates lives of 17 million people living with Cerebral Palsy, bringing people living with cerebral palsy, their families, allies, supporters and organisations across more than 100 countries together.

In 2012, Cerebral Palsy Alliance created World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6. The day aims to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same rights, access and opportunities as rest of the world.

Cerebral palsy, most common motor disability in childhood, refers to a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

“There are more than 17 million people across the world living with cerebral palsy. Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with cerebral palsy,” the official website of World Cerebral Palsy Day read.

1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy cannot talk, walk, have epilepsy whereas 1 in 2 have an intellectual disability, the official website of World Cerebral Palsy Day said.

Prevention 

There is no complete prevention available for Cerebral Palsy. However, there are measures available that can reduce the chances of a child developing CP: 

-During pregnancy the female should avoid exposure to infections or viruses known to impact fetal health, such as rubella or zika; 

-Women should avoid alcohol, cigarettes and prescription drugs which are harmful to the foetus as well as get vaccination such as rubella before trying to get pregnant

-Controlling underlying health issues, such as blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

-Identifying potential Rh factor incompatibility between mother and child and proper medical care during delivery

-Reducing the risk of head injury during/after birth

-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiatives such as India Newborn Action Plan, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for prevention, early diagnosis and management of birth defects, one must take them in consideration.