Thriving Despite the Stereotype of Her Disability
Magrace Makeu, 15, was born with Cerebral Palsy. She acquired her disability from birth as a result of her mom’s labour complications. Doctors monitored her growth from birth but realized that at six months she couldn’t carry out activities for children of her age.
“At seven, Magrace couldn’t walk, talk, eat or do anything by herself. I thought all hope was lost for Magrace until I heard a CBR field worker deliver a sensitization talk on Cerebral Palsy in our Church. I hurriedly met the field worker after the Church service to know more about the CBR program and the kind of help and assistance children like Magrace could get,” narrates Magrace’s mother.
Afterward, the field worker visited Magrace’s parents at home to do a need assessment and an individual rehabilitation plan for their child. Magrace was first placed on physiotherapy and was later enrolled in a special needs school.
Magrace’s physical functionality and composure have significantly improved in school thanks to the regular follow-up of the field worker and her mother’s commitment.
“Magrace now goes to school unassisted, walks, and eats by herself. She even assists me with house chores especially in the kitchen,” adds her mom whose pain over her daughter’s condition has been alleviated with CBR’s intervention.
Looking after Magrace has inspired her mom to become a change maker in her community. As President of the Parents Support Group of Children with Disabilities, she uses her daughter’s experience to encourage other parents of children with disabilities.
Magrace is, today, a very playful and interactive girl, loved and accepted by her family and community.
Stories like that of Magrace are becoming rampant within target communities of the CBC Health Services and her network of Partner Organisations.
While there is no known cure for Cerebral Palsy yet, we continue to see more and more children born with the condition. Considering the absence of fully developed management options for Cerebral Palsy in Cameroon, the CBC Health Services has gone ahead to implement a new evidence-based standard of treatment method known as Support Tools Enabling Parents (STEP) to better manage the condition.
With STEP, CBR field workers are empowered to effectively simplify the understanding of the condition for parents who can, in turn, participate in realizing improvements in the lives of their children
STEP was developed by the Liliane Foundation and has since been successfully implemented in countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.