Doha: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, marked World Cerebral Palsy Day in support of its patients and families with children who have cerebral palsy (CP).
Dr. Lisa Thornton, Division Chief of Rehabilitative Medicine at Sidra Medicine, said: “This year’s theme is “Millions of Reasons” because there are 17 million worldwide with cerebral palsy and every one of them is a reason to strive for change. The vision of this day is to ensure that children and adults with CP have the same rights, access, and opportunities as anyone else in our society.”
Qatar has been committed to supporting the rights of people with CP since signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2008. This commitment was re-affirmed with the Doha Declaration of 2019. Since then, organisations like Qatar Foundation, through its Ability Friendly Program and Sidra Medicine with its multidisciplinary clinics, have lead the way in terms in offering services beneficial for children with CP in the country.
The Rehabilitation Department at Sidra Medicine is based on a multidisciplinary, community-based approach – working with young patients and their families. Every patient is seen by a rehabilitative medicine physician together with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist, allowing for a tailored, holistic approach to care. The families also receive a personalized plan on what to expect regarding the impact their child’s disability will have on their lives, and receive guidance on the best ways to help their child reach their full potential.
Sidra Medicine’s Movement Disorders Clinic was established in 2020 and is the only paediatric service in Qatar to provide comprehensive management of spasticity (uncontrollable muscle stiffness) and dystonia (involuntary, abnormal jerking or twisting movements) in children and young people with CP.
