Bangladesh’s Razzak gets World Down Syndrome Day Award
Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh Chairman Sarder A Razzak has received a 2017 World Down Syndrome Day award for his contributions to helping persons and families living with the genetic disorder, reports bdnews24.com.
Razzak was presented with the award at a formal presentation organised by Down Syndrome International (DSi) at the 13th World Down Syndrome Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, on Jul 27.
Razzak was recognised for his “outstanding achievements which have strengthened and enriched the lives of persons with Down syndrome”, the Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh said on its Facebook page.
Razzak is the father of a son with Down syndrome and took the initiative to help children like his son and parents like him through forming the Parents Support Group of Bangladesh for families living with the disorder, DSi said in a statement.
He later went on to launch the Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh, which aims to raise awareness of and promote the acceptance and inclusion for people with Down syndrome and provide resources towards this goal.
“It envisions communities where everyone -- including those with disabilities especially people with Down syndrome -- is accepted, included, empowered and given the opportunity and choice to create their own happiness and path to success,” the organisation says on its Facebook page.
Down Syndrome International is a UK-based international charity that is ‘committed to ensuring quality of life and human rights for all people with down syndrome’.
World Down Syndrome Day is observed on Mar 21 each year, with the date (21/3) representing the 3 copies of chromosome 21 that is unique to people with Down syndrome.
According to DSi, Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement affecting 1 in 800 live births.
The organisation estimates that up to seven million have Down syndrome worldwide.
