Mother and carer: You don't appreciate public services until your child needs them to survive

The profound challenges faced by families raising children with disabilities in Zambia have been brought into sharp focus through the poignant testimony of Stephanie Park, a mother who has navigated the complexities of care in two vastly different environments: Zambia and Ireland. Her experience, detailed in a recent account, serves as a critical lens through which to examine the state of public services for vulnerable populations within the Zambian context. Park, whose son Oliver lives with cerebral palsy, recounts a stark contrast in the availability and quality of support systems. In Zambia, the journey was marked by immense difficulty and isolation. Families like hers often find themselves without the essential public services that are taken for granted in more developed nations. This includes everything from accessible infrastructure – such as pavements and door widths – to specialized medical care, therapeutic interventions, and educational support tailored for children with special needs. The absence of these foundational elements places an unbearable burden on parents, who frequently become the sole providers of care, advocacy, and financial support, often at great personal and economic cost. Her narrative underscores a systemic issue within Zambia's public health and social welfare sectors. While efforts are being made by the government and various non-governmental organizations to address these gaps, resources remain severely limited. Many families in rural and peri-urban areas lack access to even basic diagnostic services, let alone ongoing rehabilitation or assistive devices. This often leads to delayed interventions, worsening conditions, and a cycle of poverty for affected families who may have to forgo income-generating activities to provide full-time care. The comparison with Ireland, where the system 'helps carry the weight,' is particularly telling. It highlights the potential for a robust, publicly funded system to alleviate the pressures on fa