FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILLITIES

By Aamon Butao

Second Lady Mary Chilima has highlighted the plight of mothers of children with disabilities saying they do not deserve to bear gender-based violence. 

Madam Chilima said she is saddened to learn that some men are abandoning responsibility of looking after children with disabilities.

Speaking at a tea party organized by Full Armour Children’s Center in Lilongwe, Wife to Vice President Saulos Chilima, Mary said children with cerebral palsy need total support from both parents and it is worrisome to note that some husbands are leaving that responsibility to wives.

Madam Chilima pledged her support towards mothers of children with the disorder by brokering partnerships between Full Armour Children’s Center and other stakeholders.

                                    'come here little one' Mary Chilima,  taking one of the babies  

The Second Lady further condemned some parents’ behavior of propagating stigma and discrimination by keeping children with disabilities indoors. 

 "Children with disabilities deserve to be given the opportunity to realize their full potential in life," stressed Chilima.

The Second Lady contributed Six Hundred Thousand Kwacha towards the cause of helping children with cerebral palsy. 

In her remarks, Board Chairperson of Full Armour Children’s Centre Mara Banda said the organization needs all the support it can get to assist twenty-five children with cerebral palsy whom she said want numerous materials including special chairs.

Banda disclosed the tea party has met its target of generating more than One Million Kwacha. 

One parent with a child with cerebral palsy Loveness Dinala gave a hint of come challenges parents are facing citing her own experience of having to spend the whole day at school helping her child to read and write.

She has urged government to recruit more special needs teachers in order to promote the welfare of children with disabilities.