Schools mark cerebral palsy awareness week

EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Briones has directed all private and public schools to spread awareness of cerebral palsy through weeklong activities this month.

In a Sept. 13 memorandum, Briones cited Presidential Proclamation 588 of 2004 which declared Sept. 16 to 22 of each year Cerebral Palsy Awareness and Protection Week.

According to the website cerebralpalsy.org, cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder caused by either a brain injury or the abnormal development of a child’s brain which affects body movement as well as muscle control and coordination.

“Cerebral palsy affects muscles and a person’s ability to control them. Muscles can contract too much, too little or all at the same time. Limbs can be stiff and forced into painful, awkward positions. Fluctuating muscle contractions can make limbs tremble, shake or writhe,” according to the website.  Its complications include seizures as well as sight and auditory impairment.

It is also noted that while cerebral palsy itself is neither expected to worsen nor get better, its “associative conditions” do.

This year’s theme is “Kung sa Cerebral Palsy ay May Kaalaman, Maganda ang Kinabukasan.” Jeannette I. Andrade