The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nursing organized an event to help raise awareness for the 21st of March World Down Syndrome Day. EMU Department of Nursing third year students set-up stands outside of the Thursday Market, Önder Shopping Center and Citymall where they handed out brochures and informed the public about Down syndrome under the coordination of academic staff member Arzu Abiç and research assistant Gamze Yatmaz.
The Aim is to Raise Public Awareness
A statement released by the EMU Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nursing stated that the event aimed to raise public awareness in order to increase the integration of individuals with Down syndrome into society.
The said statement read: “Down syndrome isn’t a disease it is a genetic difference. While the number of chromosomes found in an ordinary human body is 46, this number is 47 in individuals with Down syndrome. There are 6 million individuals with Down syndrome from all over the world. With a decision made on the 10th of November 2011, the United Nations declared the 21st of March World Down Syndrome Day. Events are held on this day every year to help raise awareness. This day was chosen because March is the third month and there are three instead of two copies of chromosome 21 in individuals with Down syndrome.”
