Awareness Program on Cerebral Palsy and Early Child Marriage in Biratnagar Municipality

The Rotary Club of Patan Durbar Square, in collaboration with the Self Help Group for Cerebral Palsy (SGCP) (CP Center), organized an awareness program in Biratnagar Municipality on 15th August 2025.
The event was attended by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, ward chairpersons from different wards of Biratnagar, stakeholders working in the disability sector, and parents of children with Cerebral Palsy. In total, 55 participants took part in the program.
The program was led by RCPDS Club President 2025–26, Rtn. Dr. Pragya Karmacharya Rajbhandari, who gave a presentation on Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Nepal: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Community’s Role in Creating an Inclusive Future. She also highlighted the issue of Early Child Marriage and its impact on maternal and child health.
A panel discussion on the challenges faced by children with CP and the role of the community in building an inclusive future was held, which received high appreciation from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and other participants. Parents also shared their personal struggles and challenges in raising children with CP.
The program also emphasized Inclusive Education and Distance Learning for children with CP. As Biratnagar Municipality has already established a center for Autism, the local government expressed interest in collaborating with Rotary and SGCP in the future to expand services for children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities.
On the topic of Early Child Marriage, the program created strong awareness and a positive commitment to initiate awareness campaigns targeting students of grades 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Overall, the program was engaging, impactful, and generated positive outcomes for future collaboration and awareness.