Parents of cerebral palsy children renew call for assistance

Parents of children with cerebral palsy in Abia State have renewed calls for greater public investment in specialised support services, by governments at all levels.

This follows the reports of remarkable progress recorded through the intervention of The Straight Child Foundation (TSCF).

The appeal came during the Parent Support Group Meeting organised by the foundation in Umuahia where families, caregivers and rehabilitation professionals gathered to share experiences, strengthen emotional support and promote evidence based care for children living with cerebral palsy.

The meeting highlighted the growing importance of parent education, physiotherapy, peer support and early rehabilitation in improving the quality of life of children with neurological disabilities, reinforcing a global shift from stigma and isolation towards inclusion, dignity and functional independence.

One of the parents, Mrs Loveth Onyekachi, moved participants with an emotional account of her son’s journey from severe physical limitations to taking independent steps after months of consistent therapy.

She said, “I joined towards the end of September last year after my husband learnt about the organisation.

“Before then, we had gone from one place to another in search of help for our three year old son, Testimony Onyekachi. We spent hundreds of thousands of naira on different medications, yet nothing changed. We almost lost hope because the emotional pain was overwhelming.”

Mrs Onyekachi attributed her son’s transformation to the professional guidance received from the foundation’s physiotherapists and the commitment to continuing prescribed exercises at home.

She disclosed that in March this year, the little boy expressed his determination to walk.

“He told me he wanted to walk. I encouraged him, and today he is walking. Seeing him take those steps has completely changed our lives,” she said.

According to her, every child deserves the opportunity to realise his or her potential when provided with the right care and encouragement.

A physiotherapist with the foundation, Praise Analaba, facilitated an interactive therapy session for parents, using therapeutic movement activities, stretching routines, balance and coordination exercises, alongside group participation games designed to demonstrate techniques that improve mobility, body control, muscle strength and functional development in children living with cerebral palsy.

She explained the importance of regular home based physiotherapy, active parental participation and consistent practice in complementing professional rehabilitation programmes and achieving better long term outcomes for affected children.

The Parent Support Group meeting also provided a platform for caregivers to exchange experiences, encourage one another and gain practical knowledge on caring for children with cerebral palsy, reaffirming that informed families remain central to successful rehabilitation and social inclusion.