Cases of leaving children in maternity hospitals increase (video)
460 children need special care in Armenia's specialized institutions; 56 of them have Down syndrome. There are 12 children in specialized orphanage in Nor Kharberd, 28 in the orphanage in Gyumri. Mainly children who were left in hospitals are transferred to the institutions. "I do not want to give a subjective assessment, but I must say that cases of leaving children in maternity hospitals have increased," says Harutyun Balasanyan, headmaster of Nor Kharberd specialized orphanage. March 21 is the International Day of Down Syndrome. This day many events are organized to raise awareness about the syndrome. Harutyun Balasanyan underlined that the presence of children's external symptoms was the reason why they were left in maternity hospital. "The role of the medical staff here is not so small, as there is a lack of psychologist and social worker's service to explain to people. When children are taken home, they are rarely returned because those children do not leave anyone indifferent." President of "The Bridge of Hope" NGO Susanna Tadevosyan said that parents should share their experiences. "Often parents do not want to, but they have the wrong perception, they think that it will constantly remind them everything the doctor said after the child's birth, and I call on the families that have succeeded to become an example for others." Harutyun Balasanyan added that collective care was not good for children with Down syndrome because they were very emotional by their nature, needed personal care and attention.
