STIGMA RISES AMONGST DISABLED CHILDREN

Foster parents have increased stigmatisation amongst children with disability as they adopt only children without cleft lips, palates and paralysed at Chikwawa Orphan Care.

Kid with cleft lip

According to the Director of the Orphan Care, Maxwell Wilson is saddened by how some foster parents deny to adopt kids who have disabilities regarding them as bad luck or a taboo to their tribal culture.

“We have had several scenarios whereby the foster parents would happily choose a child to adopt, upon seeing the disabled child they change their minds”, The Manager said.

During an interview with one of the care takers at the orphan, Evelyn Misuku said it is so sad to see the disabled children being denied adoption by fosters because they are also human beings yearning for happy home with both parents.

“We are pleading with our societies to end discrimination because stigma at the orphan care is relatable to the beliefs of the society, as right to life and education of such kids are violated”, Misuku added.

Meanwhile, Manager for Operation Smile Malawi, Ibrahim Nthalika said there is a high number of children being killed or disowned because they are born with cleft lips or palates.

“We prepare parents psychologically to take good care of their children and accept their fate because some parents have stopped (Nyasa Times) coming for under 5 treatments of their children due to the fact that they are mocked by fellow parents,” Nthalika explained.

The Chikwawa Orphan Care have raised a doubt to humanity in Malawi as there is discrimination amongst the children with different disabilities.