MWANZA, July 19 -- HEALTH stakeholders have called for specialised healthcare for children with Down syndrome, beginning with immediate screening after birth, following findings that many are born with heart defects, partial vision and hearing impairment, among other complications.

They are also highly susceptible to various infections that require regular medical attention, Health Coordinator for Down syndrome Tanzania, Dr Julius Massaga, an epidemiologist, said recently during the Paediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT) Scientific Conference.

He said early identification of these health conditions remains a major challenge, largely because some healthcare providers lack adequate knowledge of the genetic condition.

To address the cha...