KDSP's Network includes more than 860 families who have children with Down syndrome. Existing unfavorable economic conditions and more recently, COVID-19 has created immense difficulties for 150 of these families to sustain basic household necessities. KDSP is providing monetary support to these families every month, since April 2020, in the form of grocery bags and cash transfers to help ease their difficulties.

Challenge

Economic conditions in Pakistan are tough for majority of the population and having a child with Down syndrome means more resources, support and care required to meet the child's additional needs. COVID-19 has added further pressures on families who were already struggling to make ends meet. Not only is it difficult for them to step out of homes to purchase grocery due to lockdown but also provide food, medicine and other essential necessities, especially for their children with Down syndrome.

Long-Term Impact

Provision of grocery bags will light the stove of deserving families so that they do not have to worry about putting food on the table for their children. Cash transfers will allow families to be able to fulfill essential needs such as medicine for their children with Down syndrome without having to depend on the breadwinner(s) solely. Eventually, the monetary support will help save children with Down syndrome and their families from being adversely affected by hunger and poverty.

References

1. https://www.kdsp.org.pk/

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