Parents of children with Down syndrome in the coastal region of Kenya are appealing to the national and county governments to set up more special schools and therapy centres to support early intervention through education and healthcare. According to Dr Kathrene Oyieke, a paediatric neurologist at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, a typical baby is born with 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), compared with 47 for those with down syndrome. Samuel Wambugu, a parent of a child with Down syndrome, urged parents not to hide their children but to seek help and support. “This is a lifelong condition. A child can live a normal life, though there may be stunted growth. With proper care, they can develop like other children,” he said.