A Chinese-foreign cooperative program was launched in Nanning, capital city of southeast China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sunday to provide cerebral palsy and mentally disabled patients with better therapy and education.

 

The launch was time to coincide with the 16th National Day for Helping the Disabled. The program is managed by the Disabled Persons' Federation of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and several international aids organizations.

 

The four-year program has tasked the international organizations with conducting surveys and research in the Guangxi region. Their findings will be compiled into a database and information system. Specific aid plans will then be designed following analyses of the information.

 

Statistics show that 70 percent of children in China who have cerebral palsy or some other form of mental retardation live in poor regions.

 

"Due to poverty and a lack of resources for providing rehabilitation, education and information, many children in Guangxi do not receive timely medical treatment or education," Li Xiaofeng, an official with the regional disabled persons' federation said.

 

This program aims to help these children live and study as normal children and it is also considered a step forward in implementing the country's goal of providing rehabilitation services to every disabled person by 2015, Li said.

 

At present, China has over six million cerebral palsy patients, but the figure rises by about 50,000 every year. It also has 13 million mentally disabled or retarded people, over six million of whom are minors.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)