Belize Observes World Down Syndrome Day

Belize has joined other countries around the world in observing World Down Syndrome Day.  The day has been observed for the past seventeen years and has been marked for March 21 each year.  Down Syndrome is brought on through the triplication of the 21st chromosome.  The extra chromosome in an individual causes varying degrees of disability in a person’s intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues.  One creative initiative for global awareness is the Lots of Socks campaign which has taken flight globally.  The idea of the campaign is to have people wearing bright, unique, or mismatched socks which would then spark a conversation on World Down Syndrome Day.   Our News Reporter, Kendra Romero is out and about in her bright socks, and got to talking with Christy Almeida, Coordinator at the Special Education Unit who explained why the awareness is important.

Almeida provides words of encouragement to mothers who have children with Down syndrome. 

The United Nations adopted March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day in 2021.