World Down Syndrome Day Becomes Momentum To Create An Inclusive World

Illustration of Down Syndrome (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Diyah Puspitarini said World Down Syndrome Day which will be commemorated on March 21 is an introspection momentum to be able to create a friendly and inclusive world.

Diyah invites stakeholders and the public to make improvements in fulfilling children's rights with down syndrome. According to him, it is not too late to fix it.

In addition, he also invited to eliminate negative perspectives on down syndrome children.

"Let's start to change the mindset, then change the negative perspective of down syndrome children. Instead, we go back, yes, we as humans must together create a friendly and inclusive world," Diyah told Antara, quoted Monday, March 20.

Diyah said her belief that children's lives with down syndrome will change for the better even though they have to go through a difficult struggle. She reminded that every human being who is born in any condition always has advantages even if the child is down syndrome.

Therefore, he emphasized that families and communities must open opportunities and space for children with down syndrome to grow and develop, on par with other children.

According to Diyah, the commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day should also inspire the public to provide a safe and comfortable space for children down syndrome considering that they have the same rights as other children.

"If our people have good education and they already understand, of course, children with down syndrome are considered the same as others. (They) get education, get health facilities, get civil rights, then if they have an opinion we have to pay attention to them. Well, the problem is there. I think it's still PR today," said Diyah.

Children with down syndrome have the right to get good care from their parents, both psychologically, such as full attention from their parents and physically including monitoring of adequate nutrition from under five to vaccination needs.

"Parents who do not understand handling and care so sometimes the fulfillment of the health of children down syndrome is not considered," said Diyah.

He gave an example when vaccinating against COVID-19, not many children with down syndrome were vaccinated or received education about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, in a wider context, the government also needs to play a role in increasing the fulfillment of children's rights with down syndrome through inclusive access to formal education, health services, skills training to achieve economic independence, to fulfill their civil rights as Indonesian citizens.