Bertha Gxowa Hospital CEO celebrates birthday and raises awareness on Cerebral Palsy
While addresing the audience Khumalo said this topic is close to her heart as her late brother was also diagnosed with CP.
Lebohang Khumalo, Bertha Gxowa Hospital’s chief executive officer (CEO), celebrated her 44th birthday by raising Cerebral Palsy awareness on March 25.
The awareness-birthday celebration event was held at Dr Clarence Mini Hall at Germiston with the theme of green and white.
The event aimed to commemorate March as the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Month.
CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles.
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CP is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. Cerebral palsy is due to abnormal brain development, often before birth.
Symptoms include exaggerated reflexes, floppy or rigid limbs and involuntary motions.
These appear in early childhood.
Long-term treatment includes physical and other therapies, drugs and sometimes surgery.
The event was also supported by Lindiwe Ndlovu, guest experience manager, from McDonalds at Golden Walk Mall. With her team, they also offered free haircuts.
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Khumalo said March 25 was devoted to awareness of this common cause of disability in children.
Initiated in 2006, the day and the month came from a need to recognise the lack of progress in CP research.
While addressing the audience Khumalo said this topic is close to her heart as her late brother was also diagnosed with CP.
“What pains me is that growing up, our neighbour had a child with CP and we never knew about it until the day of the funeral. We need to educate parents that CP is a condition,” said Khumalo.
As part of the programme, Melva Davhana shared her story of discovering how her child was living with a CP diagnosis.
Her child did not display any signs of disability until at a later stage.
“She started to get sick at 11 months old. The doctors did several tests and nothing indicated otherwise, but the playful child was suddenly sick.
“I started to isolate myself. At some point, I thought my child was cursed or bewitched. The situation got difficult when I had to stop working to care for my child. Covid-19 was at its peak so household income was also affected.”
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She said Bertha Gxowa offers services that are essential to her to cope with the reality of her child living with CP.
BGH CP coordinator and champion Thando Nyembe is also a physiotherapist. She works at the BGH CP clinic. On Wednesdays, they organise sessions with parents and their children for therapy sessions.
