Damascus, (SANA) – Cerebral palsy is a term that encompasses several types of conditions that cause physical disability due to damage to the brain, which causes patients to require special care to enable them to lead a normal life.

Caring for cerebral palsy patients is undertaken by specialized institutes under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, caring for patients from birth until they reach the age of 35.

Al-Nur Institute cares for children with cerebral palsy, while the Cerebral Palsy Vocational Rehabilitation Institute cares for older patients. Both institutes were established in 1979.

Due to the important role of civil society in the process of development, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor signed a partnership agreement with Light & Flowers charity association three years ago, allowing the association to help manage the two institutes.

Director of Light & Flowers Bushra al-Ulabi Ghraywati said the partnership stipulates for cooperation in managing the two institutes regarding student affairs and providing their medical, educational and therapeutic needs.

She also called for establishing a large center specializing in cerebral palsy to accommodate the largest possible number of patients and provide ample space for physical therapy and sport, in addition to allowing all willing and capable patients to receive education.

Ghraywati urged mothers to seek early medical advice in case a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy in order to get better results from treatment.

The Light & Flowers association provides support for 600 families of cerebral palsy patients, in addition to helping patients who wish to pursue university education.

Director of al-Nur Institute Nada Abu al-Shamat pointed out that the institute cares for patients who are 6 to 12 years old in the educational sector, which contains 64 students receiving physical treatment alongside education. The physical therapy section contains 63 children and is dedicated for early intervention since infancy.

For her part, Director of the Cerebral Palsy Vocational Rehabilitation Institute Roula al-Dahhan said the institutes is currently treating 77 patients whose ages range from 12 to 35, helping them adapt to society and learn daily and social skills, providing them with education and future work opportunities, supplying medical equipment, and even organizing sports activities and trips.

H. Sabbagh