Doctors and human rights activists have urged the authorities to ensure availability of rights guaranteed to children under Child Rights Convention, signed by the country several years ago.
They also demanded of the society in general to realize the rights of special children in the country and to also ensure that these are no more violated.
Expressing their views at an Eid Mela for Special Children, organized by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in collaboration with Department of Paediatrics-Civil Hospital Karachi, Konpal Child Abuse Prevention Society and Al Umeed Rehabilitation Association (AURA) othey said capacities of special children needed to be understood.
This also needed to be appreciated and encouraged so as to help the special children become valuable contributing members of the society, said Prof. Ayesha Mehnaz, head of pediatrics department, CHK. She highlighted the importance of recreation as the right of every child. “Being a signatory to Child Rights Convention (CRC) we should make every effort to give children of this country their due rights and bring happiness to their lives,” she said.
Prof. Ayesha Mehnaz said the event (eid mela) is equally focused to raise public awareness about rights of special children that are being violated in our society.
Prof. M. Umar Farooq, Pro-Vice Chancellor, DUHS said no society could progress without acknowledging relevance of its special population besides polishing and encouraging their capacities. He announced that Dow University would soon establish a School of Development Paediatric.
“This school will provide a platform to unite and chalk out the social care, treatment strategies of special children,” he said. He appreciated the efforts undertaken by Konpal child abuse prevention society and said that different organizations including those of pediatricians were witnessed providing rehabilitative services to the special children and this was highly appreciable. Pro-Vice Chancellor of DUHS also hailed schools taking revolutionary steps for actualization of the rights and welfare of the special children. Over 300 special children, teachers, faculty members of DUHS, General physicians, psychologists and students of DMC participated in this event. The colorful event started with fun filled activities organized at the garden out side Arag auditorium.
