GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations (UN) since 2012.
21 March 2018 marks the 13th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day. For WDSD 2018, Down Syndrome International (DSi) focuses on: #WhatIBringToMyCommunity - how people with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions throughout their lives, whether in schools, workplaces, living in the community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure, and sport.
Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics or health.
Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), fully supports the call by DSi by encouraging populations all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in their family lives and communities.
On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day.
The General Assembly decided to "designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012" and "invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome".
For more information call CPS at 542-1122, 542-1222, 542-1322 or 542-1570.
