HMC observes World Cerebral Palsy Day with virtual awareness lectures

HMC observes World Cerebral Palsy Day with virtual awareness lectures

To mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, which occurs annually on October 6, the Paediatrics Rehabilitation Department at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI) organised a series of awareness events for schools in Qatar.

The events included virtual lectures at a number of schools to highlight the condition and its associated disorders, including spasticity which is considered one of the most common symptoms in children with cerebral palsy. The events aimed at educating schoolteachers about the needs of children with cerebral palsy and how to act in emergency situations without risking the child’s health or life.

The lectures served as platform to educate attendees about the definition of cerebral palsy, latest local and global statistics, common causes of cerebral palsy, prevention, as well as to highlight care programmes and services provided by HMC to children with cerebral palsy. Dr Murad Salem, consultant paediatric neurorehabilitation at QRI, said there are currently around 700 cerebral palsy patients being cared for by QRI’s Paediatrics Rehabilitation Department. He noted that the department has received around 50 new cases of children with the condition so far in 2021. These children are referred to the Paediatrics Rehabilitation Department from either HMC hospitals, Primary