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, Rehabilitative Medicine at Sidra Medicine said: “This year’s theme is “Millions of Reasons” because there are 17mn 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. The commitment was re-affirmed with the Doha Declaration in 2019. Organisations like Qatar Foundation, through its Ability Friendly Programme and Sidra Medicine with its multidisciplinary clinics, have led the way in terms of offering services beneficial for children with CP.
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 personalised 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 in children and young people with CP. The multidisciplinary team members are from nursing, physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation medicine, neurology, and neurosurgery. The clinic offers state-of-the-art surgical interventions such as selective dorsal rhizotomy to patients who have not responded to medications and therapy.
“Having CP should not have to stand in the way of a child living a happy, fun, and productive life. This is why we work with the community and most importantly parents to help their child achieve their goals. We ask people in Qatar to come together to celebrate and support those living with CP, embrace diversity and to help create awareness and action around cerebral palsy,” concluded Dr Thornton.
Dr Lisa Thornton, division chief, Rehabilitative Medicine at Sidra Medicine said: “This year’s theme is “Millions of Reasons” because there are 17mn 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. The commitment was re-affirmed with the Doha Declaration in 2019. Organisations like Qatar Foundation, through its Ability Friendly Programme and Sidra Medicine with its multidisciplinary clinics, have led the way in terms of offering services beneficial for children with CP.
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 personalised 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 in children and young people with CP. The multidisciplinary team members are from nursing, physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation medicine, neurology, and neurosurgery. The clinic offers state-of-the-art surgical interventions such as selective dorsal rhizotomy to patients who have not responded to medications and therapy.
“Having CP should not have to stand in the way of a child living a happy, fun, and productive life. This is why we work with the community and most importantly parents to help their child achieve their goals. We ask people in Qatar to come together to celebrate and support those living with CP, embrace diversity and to help create awareness and action around cerebral palsy,” concluded Dr Thornton.
