Reintegrating children with disabilities to families improves the child’s mental health

According to the National Council of People with Disabilities (NCPD), over 3,000 children live in children centres instead of with families. NCPD expresses its wish for these children to be reintegrated in families. More than 3,000 children seem to be affected as the current figures are preliminary from an ongoing survey about children with disabilities in Rwanda. Before this ongoing survey, there were not the same access to this information making it difficult to see the need for children. Emmanuel Ndayisaba, the Executive Secretary of NCPD stressed the importance of family reintegration as love and care can improve the child’s mental health and heals their trauma. He further on stated that the centres aim at providing support such as medication and temporary treatment until the children can be reintegrated with families. Lastly, he said that the parents of children with disabilities should receive financial and moral support.