World Down Syndrome Day celebrated

Down syndrome is caused due to the triplication of the 21st chromosome. To celebrate this uniqueness and to increase awareness about it and other intellectual disabilities, World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on the 21st of March, the third month, every year. This day is celebrated all over the world with the motto ‘More Alike Than Different’. This year, the theme of World Down Syndrome Day was ‘We Decide’.

Down Syndrome Society Nepal (DSSN) celebrated the 17th World Down Syndrome day today with a walkathon and the inauguration of an easy-to-read manual about the menstrual cycle and a yearly calendar. Children with Down Syndrome, their families, caretakers, and volunteers were part of the celebration. Khem Raj Tiwari, head of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 26 was the chief guest of the event. Mitra Lal Sharma, President of the National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN), Raju Basnet, President of the Parent Federation of Person with Intellectual Disabilities (PFPID), Dekraj Bhattarai, Chairman of the National Disability Fund were some people who attended the celebration.

The walkathon that started from Kapurdhara going through Galkopakha to Lainchaur and ended back at Children’s Park at Kapurdhara began at 8 am today. More than 50 people participated in the walkathon. Shila Thapa, Director of DSSN initiated the celebration at the Children’s Park, Kapurdhara at 10 am. Both children and adults celebrated the rest of the day with dance performances and merriment. There was also a dance performance as all the children and adults with Down Syndrome enjoy music and dance

Due to the pandemic, World Down Syndrome Day was last celebrated in 2020. “We were not able to celebrate Down Syndrome Day due to the COVID-19 protocols. I am very happy to finally be able to celebrate this special day this year,” says Shila Thapa. Even though the celebration this year was minimal compared to month-long activities in the previous years, Thapa is content with today’s successful event. “It was important for us to be able to raise awareness,” she says. “Children, parents, and volunteers walked proudly on the streets celebrating their day. This means a lot to me,” she adds.

‘Menstruation and My Knowledge’ manual and calendar for the year 2079 along with reusable sanitary pads were also distributed to 10 adolescent females with down syndrome. Sabu Poudel, President of Hami Nepal assisted with the distribution of sanitary pads. Chairperson of ADRA Nepal, Birendra Raj Pokhrel said, “The distribution of the book ‘Menstruation and My Knowledge’ and the sanitary pads are in accordance with the slogan of this year. Female children with Down Syndrome also have periods. Thus, this is raising awareness on two critical issues.”