What鈥檚 life like for people living with Down Syndrome in Africa?
In Africa people with Down Syndrome often face a shorter life expectancy because of limited healthcare, delayed diagnosis and scarce support systems
In today's podcast, we are looking at life for people with Down Syndrome in Africa. Down Syndrome is a genetic condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome; they鈥檒l have an extra copy of chromosome 21, making 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It alters the development of the body and brain, leading to delays in areas like speech.
In Africa, people with the condition often face additional barriers, a shorter life expectancy because of limited healthcare, delayed diagnosis, and scarce support systems. Opportunities for education and employment can also be hard to come by which exacerbates the stigma they experience.
So, what can be done to begin to change this?
Africa Daily鈥檚 Alan Kasujja hears from Eunice Koros, a Kenyan mother, and her son Ivan Kiprono, a 26-year-old man with Down Syndrome who works at their family factory. He also speaks to David Maxwell, Project Manager for the Down Syndrome Association of Ghana, who shares how witnessing his sister鈥檚 life with the condition inspired him to advocate for change.
Podcast
-
Africa Daily
One question to wake up to every weekday morning. One story from Africa, for Africa