Wenlock to get early intervention center soon

Wenlock to get early intervention center soon

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 19, 2015 :  Speaking to media here,Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader on July 18 said  that the district early intervention centre to treat children with disabilities will be opened at Government Wenlock Hospital here within a month.  

He said that children up to 18 years would be treated  free at the centre.  The government has identified 622 children with disabilities who require treatment in Dakshina Kannada.  It would also be the first such regional pediatric speciality centre in the State.

The centre would treat disabilities, disorders, defects and diseases under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and it aims at covering about 15 diseases under (birth) defect and disability.  He said that the children found with defects or symptoms of possible defects would be referred to the centre to start early treatment so that it  could be controlled.

The Minister said that “stimulation technique” would be used to treat children having visual defects and hearing defects and various specialists would offer their services at the centre.  H.R. Rajeshwari Devi, district surgeon and medical superintendent, Government Wenlock Hospital, said that the early intervention centre would be a day-care centre.  Those who required special surgery  would be taken to the Regional Advanced Pediatric Care Centre in the premises of the hospital. However, the RAPCC did not have facilities for heart operations.

Minister Khader said  that Children who require specialised cardiological treatment may avail treatment in RBSK empanelled hospitals in any part of the State.  He said that the early intervention centre would work like a single window agency to treat various diseases and defects of special children.

The Minister said that those above 18 years would be treated at the district disability and rehabilitation centre. U.V. Shenoy, nodal officer, district early intervention centre was present.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader said here on Saturday that the government was thinking of launching a campaign to bring down disability rates in the State. Addressing media, he said that genetic factors, absence of immunisation and accidents resulted in disability. Experts would be consulted on how to launch the campaign. He said that certain steps could be followed such as avoiding marrying close blood relatives to prevent the birth of children with defects. The objective of the campaign was to make people take precautionary steps to avoid birth of children with disabilities.