Lagos gets cerebral palsy centre

By Ephraim Oseji
Benola, a cerebral palsy initiative, founded three months ago, has unfolded plans to build a cerebral palsy centre in Lagos where those who cannot afford the medication of managing the disability can go for free treatment, counseling and management.

Cerebral palsy is the term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscles coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during foetal development or during infancy.

Speaking after a two-day round table meeting of experts on early detection and effective management regime for persons with cerebral palsy in Nigeria hosted by Benola, the founder, CEO, AVM Femi Gbadebo (rtd), said the organization’s long time goal is to build a cerebral palsy centre in Lagos, adding that the centre would later be located in several states of Nigeria when the initiative would have started attracting local and international donors.

Gbadebo said the centre would have in-house doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses and social workers, adding that those suffering from the disability would attend the centre twice or thrice a week for the management and treatment of children with cerebral palsy is free of charge.

The free treatment, he explained, would however be restricted to children of the poor, while the wealthy ones would be made to pay a token as support for the centre.

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