Each year, October 6 marks World Cerebral Palsy (CP) Day—a time when communities around the globe are encouraged to recognise and celebrate the estimated 50 million people living with cerebral palsy. For many, this day presents an opportunity for pride and reflection; yet for countless others, it serves as a painfully clear reminder of the ongoing struggles for visibility and equal rights.
World Cerebral Palsy Day is not about seeking pity or handing out symbolic support. It’s a call to action, a plea for inclusion, and a moment for genuine recognition. The 2024 theme, “Unique and United,” encapsulates a vital truth: unity does not require sameness. The cerebral palsy community stands as a powerful example of diversity—spanning different abilities, experiences, and aspirations. It is this collective push for dignity and representation that unites them.
Cerebral palsy remains the most prevalent physical disability in children globally. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the condition arises from abnormal brain development or injury early in life, which impairs movement, posture, and muscle control. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that many children with CP face difficulties with voluntary movement and may have other health challenges such as seizures, or issues with vision, hearing, or speech. While cerebral palsy is a lifelong journey, many individuals live independently and thrive with proper medical care and community support.
In Africa, and in Nigeria specifically, the situation is uniquely complex. Reliable national data is scarce, making it difficult to grasp the full scope of the issue. Citing a study reportedly conducted in Nigeria, about 3.5 out of every 1,000 children could be living with cerebral palsy—though actual numbers may be much higher. As of 2017, a University of Lagos professor estimated that as many as 700,000 Nigerians were affected. Across Africa, studies indicate a range between 0.8 and 10 affected children per 1,000, reflecting significant regional differences, healthcare access, and reporting standards.
Behind every statistic, there are individuals whose life journeys are shaped almost entirely by the resources at their disposal. In Nigeria, access to care often depends on whether a family can afford it. There is currently no national registry for CP, and most children do not show up in government records—a major oversight with lasting consequences.
According to health experts in Lagos, a major cause of CP in the country is preventable birth complications. Many children develop CP as a result of birth asphyxia—when babies are deprived of oxygen during childbirth—or untreated newborn jaundice. These issues, as several Nigerian paediatricians emphasise, are symptoms of inadequate maternal care, weak health infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled birth attendants in rural and semi-urban communities. “Many of these conditions could be avoided with timely medical intervention,” explains Dr. Ifeoma Ekene, a pediatrician at a public hospital in Abuja.
When the healthcare system fails to address these preventable conditions early, families face a lifelong battle. Early intervention with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and assistive technology can transform lives—but the reality is that such services remain out of reach for the vast majority of families, especially in rural Nigeria. A mother from Oyo State shared her experience: “We travel hours to access therapy for my son. It’s expensive and exhausting; most families can’t manage it.”
Schools, too, remain largely inaccessible for children with CP and other mobility challenges. As reported by Inclusive Education Nigeria, most schools lack adequate ramps, accessible toilets, and teaching aids. Stigma lingers in many communities—some parents, fearing shame or discrimination, opt to keep children at home. Even in supportive families, many mothers abandon their jobs to become full-time caregivers. Cultural misconceptions, including superstitious beliefs linking disability to spiritual causes, can lead to isolation, blame, or exclusion.
The impact extends beyond personal hardship. “Cerebral palsy does not strip a person of their value,” says disability rights activist Aisha Obi in Lagos. “What does that is the failure of society to provide equal opportunities.” In Nigeria, disability often goes hand-in-hand with societal shame, and public advocacy or education campaigns are still limited in reach and frequency. World Cerebral Palsy Day offers a pivotal platform to confront these attitudes and affirm, for all to hear, that differences should not be equated with deficiency.
One fundamental challenge is the lack of reliable data. As Dr. Benson Adeyemi, a public health researcher, points out: “You cannot plan for what you cannot measure. Without official numbers or a national registry, policies and budgets aren’t based on reality.” Underfunding and a shortage of trained teachers and therapists leave children with CP unsupported, deepening the cycle of exclusion and marginalisation.
Despite these challenges, signs of progress are emerging. Across Nigeria and West Africa, adults and youth with cerebral palsy are finding their voices—sharing their stories on social media, advancing their education, and engaging in advocacy. Non-profits such as the Cerebral Palsy Center and local disability support groups are playing vital roles in raising awareness, lobbying for improved healthcare policies, and creating inclusive events. These small but significant actions chip away at decades of silence.
This year’s theme, “Unique and United,” is especially resonant in a multicultural context like Nigeria. While each individual living with cerebral palsy faces unique challenges and has distinct abilities, they are connected by a shared plea for respect, opportunity, and inclusion.
What the CP community in Nigeria needs most is not sympathy, but greater access—access to quality healthcare, inclusive schools, employment opportunities, and barrier-free public spaces. As one advocacy group in Ghana puts it, “We don’t want handouts; we want a level playing field.” Real inclusion begins when society treats all its members as equals and invests in all their futures.
This moment asks more of all of us—policy makers, educators, healthcare providers, and neighbours alike. Building a more inclusive Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, will require collective action, honest conversations, legislative reforms, and, most importantly, the elevation of those living with cerebral palsy from the margins to the mainstream. Their voices must guide the solutions. Their lives should inspire not just empathy, but enduring change.
As we mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, the question remains: How are we, as Nigerians and Africans, supporting those who are “unique and united” in our communities? What will it take to finally make dignity, access, and inclusion a reality for everyone? Share your thoughts in the comments—and remember, real transformation begins not just with awareness, but with collective commitment and action.
Have a powerful story about living with cerebral palsy, disability advocacy, or healthcare in Africa? Want your experience featured or know someone whose voice deserves to be heard? We’d love to shine a light on your journey! Reach out to us at story@nowahalazone.com. Your story could help raise awareness and drive change.
Share your thoughts: Do you think Nigeria and West Africa are doing enough to promote inclusion for people living with cerebral palsy? What more needs to be done? Drop a comment below and join the conversation!
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