Kinshasa, October 7th, 2026 (CPA).- Protecting the mother-baby pair from conception through the child’s second year of life was recommended Wednesday to residents of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by a neuropsychiatrist as a means of preventing cerebral palsy, on the sidelines of World Cerebral Palsy Day, observed every year on October 6th.
“My message to the population today is that, to prevent cerebral palsy, the mother-baby dyad or pair must be protected during the first 1,000 days of life, that is, the period from conception to the child’s second year of life. This is a period when the child’s brain is fragile and can easily be damaged, which may lead to cerebral palsy,” said Dr Justin Mbusa, a neuropsychiatrist at the Neuropsychopathological Centre (CNPP).
“Cerebral palsy is primarily a childhood condition. It is a neurological disorder associated with an injury to or abnormal development of the brain occurring very early in life, particularly during pregnancy, around the time of birth and after birth,” he added.
Dr Mbusa explained that with cerebral palsy, the brain is affected very early in life. As the brain has reduced control over body movements, posture and balance, the child may have difficulty sitting, walking, using their hands, or speaking clearly and properly.
The neuropsychiatrist also distinguished mental illness from mental health. “Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person can fulfil their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to the development of their community, whereas mental illness, such as depression or schizophrenia, mainly affects thoughts, emotions or behavior,” he said. The health specialist subsequently listed other brain-related health problems, including epilepsy, also known locally as “maladie ya ndeke”, neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as strokes. World Cerebral Palsy Day is observed every year on 6 October.
This year, it is being held under the theme “Unique and United”.
Its objective is to raise public awareness of cerebral palsy, the most common motor disability among children, and to promote inclusion and the rights of people affected by the condition. ACP/