Cerebral Palsy Foundation launches fundraising campaign to support families

AMMAN — A neurological disorder still little-known to the general public, cerebral palsy (CP) affects an estimated six children per 1,000 births in Jordan, with the number of detected cases increasing annually, according to a sector expert.

“CP is the primary cause of physical disability among children as it affects brain cells in the development and growth stages. Depending on the affected area, it disturbs the cognitive and physical capacity and can create listening and viewing disorders,” said Managing Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation Abeer Sakijha.

Since its establishment in 1977, the non-profit organisation has been providing services to over 21,232 children, through its five centres located in Amman, Irbid, Aqaba, Karak and Zarqa, in addition to its model schools in Amman, Aqaba and Karak, the managing director told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

According to figures by the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, around four per cent of Jordan’s population suffers from CP, while global statistics indicate that three in every 1,000 people have the disease, Sakijha stated, noting that the number of children benefitting from the foundation’s services increases by 400 annually.

The foundation recently launched “Hand in Hand”, a new fundraising campaign aimed at enabling individuals and organisations to cover treatment costs for children with CP and improve their health status.

“Our centres specialise in diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating and educating the children who suffered disability in early childhood, to help them live a normal life, both at a personal and educational level,” Sakijha said, highlighting the “many success stories witnessed among students of the centres”.

However, these services come at a high cost, the managing director pointed out, stressing the difficulties faced by the children’s families in providing for the long-term intensive educational programme required to develop kids’ abilities, mobility and senses “in an atmosphere of optimism and looking forward to a bright future”.

“Helping those families means creating hope for these children. It ranges from practicing their daily and educational life without feeling helpless and frustrated to integrating them with standard schools,” Sakijha continued, urging further public and institutional support.

Among the success stories of students who attended the foundation’s centres, one became a computer engineer, working at the King Hussein Cancer Centre, another emerged in literary writing, writing two books, while four students passed their 2018 Tawjihi with high scores, according to a foundation’s statement.

A neurological disorder affecting a child’s movement, motor skills and muscle tone, CP is usually caused by brain damage developed while the baby is still in utero or shortly after birth, according to online medical sources, which noted that CP can lead to a number of other medical conditions, such as speech problems, learning disabilities, hearing and vision problems.

While no cure currently exists for CP, there are numerous treatment options that can help children live quality lives, most of which are provided by the CP Foundation in Jordan.

“We do not only focus on the medical aspect of things. Although we provide medical and rehabilitation services, we also focus on the educational services from kindergarten through high school level, in order to fight the social stigma and the lack of disability-friendly facilities,” Sakijha stated, noting that the foundation regularly holds awareness sessions aimed at sensitising society to the challenges surrounding CP, with the aim of improving public understanding of the disorder and better integrate those living with it.