{"id":264004,"date":"2022-03-08T16:50:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T22:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=264004"},"modified":"2022-03-10T16:26:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T22:26:12","slug":"world-health-organization-down-syndrome-birth-defect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/world-health-organization-down-syndrome-birth-defect\/","title":{"rendered":"World Health Organization social media post lists Down syndrome as a birth defect to be ‘prevented’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Individuals with Down syndrome and their families were shocked and disheartened by a recent social media post from The World Health Organization (WHO) last week that listed Down syndrome as a birth defect that can be prevented. However, there is no way to prevent Down syndrome itself. “Eliminating” Down syndrome really means eliminating those who have the condition through abortion.<\/p>\n

“Today is World Birth Defects Day,” WHO originally wrote on March 3, according to the screenshot below. “Most birth defects can be prevented and treated with access to quality maternal and newborn care. Yet, every year, they cause the deaths of close to 250,000 babies within just 1 month of birth.”<\/p>\n

Down syndrome was then listed as one of the “most common severe birth defects.” After receiving backlash, the WHO edited the Facebook post to remove Down syndrome from the list, and deleted the paragraph of information. However, it appears a separate post on Twitter also included Down syndrome as a birth defect.<\/p>\n

\"WHO\"

WHO Screenshot<\/p><\/div>\n

News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, a mother of nine children \u2014 including one with Down syndrome, replied to the WHO tweet with a tweet of her own saying, \u201c[…]#WHO. Down syndrome is NOT a birth defect. It\u2019s a chromosomal variation. My baby w\/ Downs is as human & valuable as any of my other kids. These comments lead to discrimination & abortion. Celebrate, don\u2019t eliminate differences.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Why do we financially support discredited, China-run #WHO<\/a>. Down Syndrome is NOT a birth defect. It\u2019s a chromosomal variation. My baby w\/ Downs is as human & valuable as any of my other kids. These comments lead to discrimination & abortion. Celebrate, don\u2019t eliminate differences https:\/\/t.co\/eQuyhiP7z0<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/AAVOTw8DBM<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) March 6, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n