The 9th annual international day for people with Down's syndrome will feature a United Nations conference on access to services supporting health and wellbeing.
Today, health experts and campaigners from across the world will meet at the United Nations headquarters in New York to advocate for quality healthcare access for people with Down's syndrome.
Down's syndrome is a chromosomal condition affecting around one in 800 live births. Characterised by physical growth delays, distinguishing facial features, learning disabilities and vulnerability to certain health conditions, people with the condition can nonetheless lead full and happy lives.
People globally with Down's syndrome, however, can also face challenges with respect to healthcare, ranging from incorrect or late diagnoses to discrimination.
In some cases, the healthcare practictioner may be unaware they are discriminating, which can lead to misdiagnosis and poor health outcomes, particularly in treating vulnerabilities to heart problems.
According to Dr. Yvonne Maddox from the US Down Syndrome Consortium, there are frequently smaller packages of funding available for Down's syndrome than there are for other genetic conditions, despite the condition's prevalence.
The conference forms part of a drive to bring the world in line with Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), which calls for the rights of all people with disabilities to enjoy the highest standard of healthcare available.
Speakers at the conference, commencing at 1.30pm (EDT), include Dr John Mayer, Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and Professor Tony Holland from UK's The Health Foundation.
The information daily
