20 Jan : A “Comprehensive screening camp for the differently abled children” was organized in Urban Health Training Centre, Indira colony on 19.01.10 by PGIMER School of Public health in collaboration with Department of Social welfare, UT, Chandigarh, PRAYAS, and PIOWA & GMSH-16.
India has a large number of disabled population numbering 100 million. This number is expected to increase substantially by the year 2020 in the view of rapidly changing demographic profiles and morbidity patterns. Rehabilitation services in the form of prevention, early identification, intervention and intervention have reached only 1% of the entire disabled population. In this regard community based rehabilitation comprising of medical, social and vocational rehabilitation is necessary to meet the needs of this population.
A survey was conducted in Indira colony by the department of Community medicine, PGIMER to identify all the differently abled children in the area. A comprehensive screening camp was held with the objective of thorough assessment of the nature and severity of the problem in all the identified children and recruiting them into a community based rehabilitation programme. This is a part of the initiative by PGIMER School of Public health in collaboration with Department of Social welfare, UT, Chandigarh, PRAYAS, and PIOWA & GMSH-16.
The camp was attended by 80 children with different types of disabilities like mental, locomotor, hearing and speech defects and their parents. All the children were thoroughly assessed by a team of experts from PRAYAS, PIOWA & GMSH-16. The children with specific needs for appliances were referred accordingly. A team of officials from department of Social welfare were present in the camp to generate awareness about various welfare schemes for the differently abled and facilitating the process of availing those benefits. Mr. Samwarthak Singh, Director, Department of Social welfare graced the occasion as chief guest. Dr.Rajesh Kumar, Head, Department of Community medicine, PGIMER School of Public health was the guest of honour. This camp was organized by Senior residents Dr.Murali Mohan Reddy, Dr.Tanzin Dikid and Dr. Binod. K. Patro, Assistant professor, PGIMER school of Public health. The function was also attended by health professionals, health workers, local politicians and Angan wadi workers. The purpose of the function was to sensitize all these relevant stake holders towards the needs of differently abled children and to initiate the process of community based rehabilitation in the area.