WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 2019 | VALUATES

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 2019

World Down Syndrome Day is observed on the 21st March of every year. This day witnesses the presence of people who suffer from Down syndrome, and those who live and work along with them, participating and organising various events and activities to raise awareness about the syndrome. The aim behind this celebration is to unite together with a common voice and advocate the rights of people with down syndrome. 

Marking the day 

Initially, it was the French Association for Research on Trisomy 21, which was created in the years 1990, for supporting the research in the field of down syndrome. It was entrusted with the task of making crucial findings on the syndrome and making informative reporting’s on the same. It was in the year 2005 that the Association decided to mark the date, 21st March as a symbolic date for the recognition of the syndrome and holds its meeting for discussing and divulging findings on the syndrome. The day witnessed the event of two crucial manifestations in the year 2006, when the association not only organised its second meeting in Paris on the theme of approaching cure to mental deficiency in a patient and a manifestation for patients in Geneva. 

The day got its official mark on 20th December 2007, when the World Health Organisation, an arm of the United Nations, decided to proclaim 21st March as the World Down Syndrome Day. Thus, starting from the year 2012, the United Nations General assembly recognised 21st March as the World Down Syndrome Day. 

Wondering why 21st march happened to be chosen as the date for the celebration of this day? As a date from the third month of the year, it signifies the unique triplication, basically, the trisomy of the 21st chromosome which is responsible for causing the down syndrome. 

History of World down syndrome day

Many countries around the world, observed the world down syndrome day in the year 2006 for the first time. The Down syndrome association Singapore was launched, which subsequently also hosted the website for world down syndrome day from the years 2006 to 2010. The purpose of this association was to record world activities in this niche. Subsequently, the day was declared as world down syndrome day by the United Nations in 2011, on the 19th day of December. 

The current scenario

Ever since the general assembly of the United States decided to mark the 21st March of each year, as the World down syndrome day, all member states and organisations of the United States, as well as some of the marked international organisations, celebrate the world down syndrome day in an appropriate fashion, aiming to raise the awareness of the public about the syndrome. 

As a genetic consequence, down syndrome occurs in people with an intellectual disability, resulting from the occurrence of extra substances in the 21st chromosome of the person. The reasons for the occurrence of this oddity are not known as of now but it is estimated that the chances of its occurrence are as high as 1 in a 1000 live births, all over the world. 

 

Celebrating the World down syndrome day 2019

Nations all over the world, including Africa, Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America are preparing for the celebration of the World Down syndrome day on 21st March 2019. 

Various campaigns are organised by participating members and teams to help people achieve the targets of the campaign. Most campaigns which are organised during this time, aim to work towards the realisation of rights for people suffering from downs syndrome. In bid to secure equal rights to speak, be heard and influence all governmental policies, these campaigns seek equality on all grounds for each person with the downs syndrome. Through these campaigns, people actually envisage an equal atmosphere where people with downs syndrome, participate in all activities and events in their daily life, as equals with anyone else. Anyone is welcome to promote and be a part of these campaigns, whether he is someone with downs syndrome, or someone advocating their rights. 

Wondering why people advocate such campaigns at all? There are thousands of people all over the world who actually wish to bring a positive change in the lives of those, who stand out from the crowd, for one or the other reason. It is a common conception that this can be done only with the help of spreading awareness, increasing knowledge and answering value questions of the society. People need to realise what down syndrome is and how it has come to impact the lives of one in many. 

This is the difference that a campaign can bring and hope to influence the segments which it targets.

What you need to know about down syndrome

Down syndrome is also common by the name Trisomy 21 and is a relative genetic disorder. The cause of the syndrome has been identified as a third 21st chromosome, present either in full or part. Some of the most common ways in which the syndrome manifests itself are physical growth delays, intellectual disability, which may vary in intensity, and typical facial features which make it possible to identify people who suffer from the syndrome. 

It is believed that the extra occurrence of the chromosome is a mere instance of chance and so far, no known causes have been attributed to the syndrome but it is possible to detect cases of down syndrome during pregnancy by prenatal screening and diagnostic testing. 

There is no known cure for down syndrome and while the world moves forward to recognise the plight of children and adults, who suffer from the syndrome, the fact remains that most of those diagnosed, maintain an average IQ of 50. This is why, there are special schools. All around the world, where children can come and attain education. In this developed arena, it can be expected that people with down syndrome and make up to 50 or 60 years of lifetime. 

Some of the common characteristics which should be noted to check for presence of down syndrome include mental impairment, stunted growth, increased volume of skin behind the neck, narrow roof of the mouth, flat head, flattened nose, short neck, abnormal teeth, slanted eyes, abnormal growth of outer years, separation between the first and second toes, flexible ligaments, protruding tongue, obstructive sleep apnoea, bend in the tip of the fifth finger and more. 

Preventing Down syndrome

As much as the world would like to help those affected by the down syndrome, little can be done to prevent it in the first place. The only thing that can be done about down syndrome is for parents to take steps that might effectively reduce the risk of the syndrome’s occurrence. 

As a first, it should be known that the chances of conceiving a baby with down syndrome, increases with the age of the mother. It has been found that the number of cases of down syndrome were higher in conceiving mothers of higher ages than those who conceived at a lower age. Thus, women can play a role in reducing the risk of down syndrome in their baby, by conceiving before the age of 35. It has also been found that consumption of folic acid contributes to positive chances of avoiding the syndrome in the child. For this, mothers should ideally consume the folic acid, before and during the pregnancy. 

It should be known that if you already have a child with down syndrome, there are high chances that you second baby might have it as well. 

Conventionally, prenatal tests can reveal the condition to the parents. Hence, when you go for screening tests and diagnostic tests, make sure that you discuss with your doctor about the same. There are high chances that your screening test might reveal with a certain probability if your foetus has down syndrome. 

At the birth of your child, doctors can assess the muscle tone, and facial profile of the child to ascertain the presence of the syndrome. There are many other tests and methods, which can be used by your doctor to examine the presence of the syndrome in your child. 

It is best to discuss all eventualities with your doctor at the time of conception or before trying for a baby, so that you are aware of all the possibilities. Every year, about 90% of the pregnancy cases with down syndrome and terminated and the number varies from location to location, depending on several factors. Some of the recommended screening tests that parents can undergo during the early years of a child are hearing, T4 and TSH, eyes, teeth, sleep, neck and more. These tests can reveal a lot about the state of health of the child and growth rate and development of vital body functions. Now, researchers are undertaking various studies to find out the causes of down syndrome and what exactly causes the occurrence of the extra chromosome in those who are affected by the syndrome. 

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