CEREBRAL PALSY – STIGMATIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION NOT THE WAY TO GO

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Glowing Star Empowerment Initiative and Development (GSEID), with interest in advocacy and empowerment of Children and individuals with special needs, their parents and guardians, other family and non-family members, joined the world to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day, October 6, 2025, in Jos, Plateau state, North Central Nigeria.

Cerebral Palsy, known also by its abbreviated form CP, refers to lifelong neurological condition that affects movement, muscle tone and posture. A neurological condition is a disorder that affects the nervous system of the body. A nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They affect body functions, and cover symptoms such as cognitive issues, motor problems and sensory issues, including emotional and behavioural changes.

Neurological conditions, which Cerebral Palsy is part of, are caused by different factors that include genetics. Other factors are infections, abnormal development, injury or damage to the part of the brain that controls movement, usually, before birth, during birth or in early childhood. Treatment and management options vary, depending on the specific condition and severity.

Cerebral Palsy according to experts is non-contagious. Similarly, it does not worsen over time, though the effect may worsen as the child with the challenge grows. Since it is non-contagious, CP does not spread through touching, being near or close to the person with the challenge, sharing food or drink with the person, and it is not spread or transmitted through the air (airborne transmission), like coughing or sneezing.

The point is CP is non-contagious; no one can contact it by being around, close to or near anyone with the challenge. By implication, therefore, nobody can contact CP by virtue or reason of caring for someone that has the challenge.

If Cerebral Palsy is therefore, non-contagious and nobody can contact it by being close to, near to and by caring for people with the challenge, why do most people avoid or distance themselves from the people with the challenge?

Aware that CP is non-contagious, Atta Safiya Mansoor, founder of the NGO, Glowing Star Empowerment Initiative and Development (GSEID), a very hardworking woman, a reputed voice for the Persons-With- Disability (PWDs) and the organiser of the World Cerebral Day 2025, in Jos, Plateau state, while fielding questions from Scoreline spoke of the challenges that families and individuals with special needs face. Among the challenges she identified are stigmatization and discrimination, saying: 

“Another area of challenge for the families and individuals with special needs is stigmatization and discrimination. Some people how they see these children, the way they look at them are stigmatizing”. 

As one who is vast and experienced on issues of the PWDs, Atta Safiya Mansoor, provided a level of enlightenment to the public, drawing attention to the fact that: 

“These children are so sensitive that they pick the slightest clue around them. Even if you are there Father or Mother and you are upset with them, they pick such a thing easily. They know it. 

“So, it is very important for members of the public, as well as our communities to please accept these children the way they are. They are unique and they are from God. He knows why He created them and gave them to the families that have them. He has blessed the families with these children. 

“We want people to accept them the way they are and to encourage them to be the best they can. Appreciate them and encourage them and always try to identify how you can help them achieve that which the Lord has destined that they will become.

“They are truly a blessing to any family that they visit. They need your support and encouragement like other children. Give it to them”. 

Not willing to leave anything uncovered towards making the environment conducive for the Persons-With-Disability, though she was 

Addressing specifically the issue of support and encouragement for the parents and guardians, Atta Safiya Mansoor, emphasised the fact that:

“The parents also need support of the community members”. When they take excuse from the office, their bosses should be empathetic towards them, to know that this lady or this gentle man needs our help, our concern, and on the basis of this give the assistance to them. Sometimes, it is time to go to the hospital and to go and do one thing or the other that the situation they are in has thrown them into. 

She strongly discouraged the public from negative insinuations and derogatory statements, with regard to the children, the family members and the rest of the caregivers.  According to her, “There are people who will say, you are just suffering for this child. You just have to keep him or her somewhere and have your rest”. 

Looking discouraged, and in a mood indicative of disappointment, surprise and disbelieve that got her choked somewhere along the line, Atta Safiya Mansoor, mumbled the following:  “Ahaaa! Indeed, so many things that goes on”. Suddenly, she concluded on this note: 

“Stigmatization and discrimination are areas we all need to speak out and say no to”.

Thanks for visiting our platform. Please, keep following us, keep visiting us and keep reading us. Remember, and bear it in mind always, there is no us, without you.

Nnabugwu Chizoba