February is National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month

CEBU, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared the month of February as the “National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month” pursuant to Proclamation No. 157 she signed on February 18, 2002.

This celebration is in response to the hundreds of thousands of Filipino children with Down syndrome who are suffering from genetic mental, physiological and physical disabilities for their right to special care, education and training to help them enjoy full and decent lives in dignity and achieve the greatest degree of self-reliance and social integration.

The Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. takes the lead in the celebration while the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment and other related agencies such as the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons and non-government organizations are enjoined to extend their support and cooperation in commemoration of the event.

Down Syndrome is the most common form of mental slowness or retardation. 

These children are slower than others in learning to use their bodies and their minds. The baby does not develop normally in the womb because of an error in chromosomes.

Children with Down Syndrome are easy to identify because of their round and somewhat flattened face, protruding tongue due to poor muscle tone, short fingers and toes with little toes curving inwards, curving fold which give an almond shape to the eyes. - THE FREEMAN