Call to respect people with dwarfism
The campaign was aimed at raising public awareness about dwarfism
PEOPLE living with dwarfism are also human, who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. This sentiment was shared by Melomed Private Hospital Manager, Randal Pedro, at a dwarfism awareness campaign held at the hospital on Saturday.
He said the campaign was aimed at raising public awareness about dwarfism, as well as raising funds for the Dwarfism Organisation. ‘As a health service provider it is also our responsibility to ensure that we continue with health education in this region.
‘We want to help the Sankaran family to mourn and grieve for their late son, Levi, who was born in this hospital with dwarfism this year. ‘We are here to celebrate his life. This we believe will help other parents cope and live with a child that is born with dwarfism. ‘We want to ensure that the grieving family does not only receive medical assistance, but also physiological support,’ Pedro said.
He said the hospital will continue with such awareness campaigns to ensure they reach more parents. Levi’s mother, Felicia Sankaran, said she was honoured to be given an opportunity to speak during the campaign. She said Levi was born with Thanatophoric Dysplasia (TD).
‘It is a fact that any couple can carry a TD baby, bearing in mind that my husband, Stanton, and I have no history of dwarfism in our family.’
Dr W Linton, a paediatrician, urged the community to stop teasing and ridiculing dwarfs as that causes much harm. ‘Pregnant women should visit gynaecologists regularly as doctors can detect if a baby suffers from dwarfism during ultrasound examinations.
‘It is when you can determine whether the baby will survive or not, as the condition cannot be reversed or cured. Some only survive 50 days after birth, while others can live normal lives,’ said Dr Linton.
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