MWANZA: HEALTH stakeholders have called for specialised healthcare for children with Down syndrome, beginning with immediate screening after birth, following findings that many are born with heart defects, partial vision and hearing impairment, among other complications.
They are also highly susceptible to various infections that require regular medical attention, Health Coordinator for Down syndrome Tanzania, Dr Julius Massaga, an epidemiologist, said recently during the Paediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT) Scientific Conference.
He said early identification of these health conditions remains a major challenge, largely because some healthcare providers lack adequate knowledge of the genetic condition.
To address the challenge, Dr Massaga said the Down Syndrome Tanzania recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers through specialised training on screening and management of the condition.
The agreement also provides for nationwide identification of people with Down syndrome to promote inclusive education, access to quality free healthcare and participation in social and economic activities during adulthood.
“They are able to thrive only if they are nurtured from childhood. Unfortunately, many are being left behind because of their condition,” he said.
PAT President Dr Theopista Masenge commended the government’s efforts to reduce under-five mortality through the construction of antenatal care units in various hospitals and the deployment of medical specialists.
ALSO READ: Tanzanians urged to support those with Down syndrome challenge
However, she noted that specialised paediatric services remain concentrated in higher-level hospitals, despite nearly 70 per cent of children being born at lower-level health facilities, particularly dispensaries.
“We commend the improvements, but we have not yet reached our target. Statistics show that 43 out of every 1,000 live births die before reaching the age of five, while 24 out of every 1,000 newborns die within the first month of life,” she said.
Dr Masenge said most of these deaths are preventable if stakeholders support government efforts to ensure all health facilities, especially at the grassroots level, have adequately trained personnel, modern medical equipment and improved infrastructure for timely healthcare delivery.
Medical Council of Tanzania representative Dr Mashauri Risso said the government continues to encourage medical professionals to pursue continuous professional development to improve service delivery.