World over, March 21st is celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day, to focus attention on the chromosomal disease, in which the patients are known to have an extra set of chromosome. It continues to be the commonest chromosomal disorder, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, afflicts nearly 6000 babies every year. Life for a person with Down syndrome is not easy as they are incapacitated by physical disabilities. To create awareness around Down syndrome and to get people to talk about the condition, the theme for this year’s Down Syndrome Day is #LotsOfSocks.
The official site of World Down Syndrome Day says, “Let's get people talking about WDSD on 21 March 2018! How? By wearing #LotsOfSocks! But not just any socks...wear our official #LotsOfSocks socks, other brightly coloured socks, long socks, printed socks, 1 sock… even 3 socks for 3 chromosomes.” The idea is to wear lots of socks – crazy, mismatched or brightly coloured ones that are bound to catch people’s attention, leading to a conversation about the disease.
In case you are wondering, “Why socks?” chromosomes, a thread-like structure inside living cells that carry genetic information, are shaped like socks and people with Down syndrome have an extra set of chromosomes. The rationale behind wearing three socks is to focus attention on ‘Trisomy 21’ or three chromosomes seen in Down syndrome patients in place of the matched pair of chromosomes.
Tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day #WDSD18 Don't forget to wear bright, colourful or mismatched #LotsOfSocks to show your love and support for friends and family with Ds. We're all a lot more alike than different! 🧦😀 pic.twitter.com/SaQAqDem6I
— John Olson (@jcameronolson) March 20, 2018
Don't forget tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day so it's time to Rock Your Socks.. wear odd socks to show your support... remember that one extra chromosome means extra cuteness 💙💛💙💛 💛❤💜❤💚❤💛💜 xx #WorldDownSyndromeDay pic.twitter.com/6BiD7as1uw
— Babs McMahon 💞💚💕💚 (@BarbaraMcMahon8) March 20, 2018
Tomorrow is #WorldDownSyndromeDay The 21st day of 3rd month was chosen to represent the triplication of the 21st chromosome which leads to Down Syndrome. Please join people all over the world in raising awareness by 'Rocking your socks' - off, bright or crazy, go for it 😊 pic.twitter.com/u7uu5hkkok
— Amanda (@edinrugbygirl) March 20, 2018
Don't forget your colourful socks for World Down Syndrome Day on Wednesday. Down Syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21. Trisomy 21 is 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, so 3/21 (March 21) is the day we celebrate all our peeps with Down Syndrome! #LotsOfSocks @NLESDCA pic.twitter.com/fJW3kepiI4
— Pasadena Elementary (@pasadenaelem) March 19, 2018
Jez has been busy in the last couple of weeks at @wiltshirepolice selling #lotsofsocks for #WDSD18. I've written a few words about how grateful we are for their support of his @DSWorkFit placement on instagram! https://t.co/2hR6H1wgjA pic.twitter.com/2q0E9Iw4Nd
— Ups and Downs (@Ups_andDowns) March 9, 2018
World Down Syndrome day is celebrated world over not only to focus attention on the severity of the disease, but also to create acceptance for sufferers who often discriminated against for their appearance. There is a pressing need to create awareness about Down syndrome in India because the risk factors for birth defects here are one too many: universality of marriage, high fertility, unplanned pregnancies, poor coverage of post childbirth care, poor maternal nutrition and large number of marriage between blood relatives like cousins. If someone close to you has Down syndrome or if you wish to spread awareness about the disease, wear brightly-coloured socks to work today and start a conversation about the disease.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2018 10:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).