Children with disabilities can be victims of society's confusion and fear
Hundreds of disabled children, who have been hidden away out of shame and fear, are finally being brought forward to receive much-needed help, thanks in part to the Potter’s Village in Kisoro, Uganda.
Their staff have been asked to help find and register all such children in the area for medical assessment.
“We found a deaf boy, aged seven, but who looked only two, with wasted legs and many developmental problems,” said CMS mission partner Jenny Green, who runs Potter’s Village.
“His mother believed he was cursed, not deaf, until I held my mobile phone ringing on the loudest tone near his ear and he didn’t even look round.”
Like many disabled children in Uganda, this boy had spent his whole life shut in the house, because his family felt ashamed of him.
Another lady brought in a two-year-old with massive hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
“Has there ever been a baby who has suffered like this?” the mother asked tearfully.
“I asked her what she thought was the cause,” said Jenny, “and she told me she believed that her child was cursed, so she locked him in her room every day, ashamed to reveal him and afraid that her other children may also be cursed.”
The woman was amazed when Jenny knew what the problem was and said that many children have that condition.
“Setting up Potter’s Village for abandoned and vulnerable babies has opened our eyes to a further hidden tragedy of helpless, hidden and hurting children,” Jenny said.
“I am glad we can begin to deal with the cloud of confusion and spiritual and social fear that surrounds disability.”
This summer, during a visit to the nearest rehab facility five hours away, Jenny was asked if Potter’s Village would help an organisation called OURS begin providing care for local disabled children. By August, more than 200 children were found, registered and ready for assessment.
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