For the last 20 years, about 10 children were born with Down Syndrome each year in the country. According to data from the Child Development Centre, there are approximately 415 Down Syndrome individuals listed at the Centre, of which 4 were born in 1971.

The Minister of Health in a message in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day 2023 said that there are many approaches that have been proven to help children reach their potential as best as possible. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar explained that this includes effective health care, parenting skills, positive family life, early intervention that supports and stimulates development from birth and the best education.

According to Yang Berhormat, in terms of healthcare, the Ministry of Health prioritises routine and universal healthcare for all Down Syndrome individuals. Apart from that, the Department of Pediatrics is always vigilant when a child with Down Syndrome is born to detect as early as possible the occurrence of any complications such as heart, intestinal, hearing and others. Towards this goal, the Child Development Centre not only provides regular health monitoring services, but also provides various services to support the early development of children with Down Syndrome.

This year's World Down Syndrome Day carries a theme "With Us, Not For Us". The theme emphasises how important it is to take into account the basic rights of all individuals with disabilities and give equal opportunities to achieve the main goal of improving the quality of life from all aspects.

Source: Radio Television Brunei