A Chinese-foreign cooperative program was launched in Nanning,
capital city of southeast China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sunday to
provide cerebral palsy and mentally disabled patients with better
therapy and education.
The launch was time to coincide with the 16th National Day for
Helping the Disabled. The program is managed by the Disabled
Persons' Federation of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,
and several international aids organizations.
The four-year program has tasked the international organizations
with conducting surveys and research in the Guangxi region. Their
findings will be compiled into a database and information system.
Specific aid plans will then be designed following analyses of the
information.
Statistics show that 70 percent of children in China who have
cerebral palsy or some other form of mental retardation live in
poor regions.
"Due to poverty and a lack of resources for providing
rehabilitation, education and information, many children in Guangxi
do not receive timely medical treatment or education," Li Xiaofeng,
an official with the regional disabled persons' federation
said.
This program aims to help these children live and study as
normal children and it is also considered a step forward in
implementing the country's goal of providing rehabilitation
services to every disabled person by 2015, Li said.
At present, China has over six million cerebral palsy patients,
but the figure rises by about 50,000 every year. It also has 13
million mentally disabled or retarded people, over six million of
whom are minors.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)