The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison, has appealed to parents of children with disability to dedicate time and show love to their wards.
The Minister made these comments when her outfit partnered Ghana’s Ambassador for this year’s International ‘Wishbone Day’ celebration, Afia Ayeyi Yiadom Boakye, an eight-year old girl with a medical condition termed, Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
Otherwise known as “Brittle bone” disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a group of genetic disorders which mainly affects the bones and results in easy breakage.
Symptoms of the disorder might include a blue colouring or tinge to the whites of the eyes, short height, loose joints, hearing loss, breathing problems and problems with the teeth. In some cases, complications of the condition present with cervical artery dissection and aortic dissection.
The Gender Minister in her address stated, even though no parent wishes to give birth to a child with any medical condition, such children are gifts from God and deserve to be loved equally and wholeheartedly.
She commended the Ambassador of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Foundation-Ghana (OIF-GH), for organising activities every year to create awareness about the condition.
The OIF-GH Ambassador, Ayeyi, inspired anyone with a disability to be strong and persevere for better things. Ayeyi used the opportunity to appeal to the general public to support her foundation.
Wishbone Day is an awareness creation day celebrated worldwide on May 6, for people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
The week-long celebration in Ghana (May 02 to May 09) has “yellow†as its theme colour, to symbolise optimism and a positive future.
Source: theindependentghana.com | Anita Odei-Osafo
