Mangaluru, Jul 18: UT Khader, Health and Family Welfare Minister, said that in order to identifying disabilities in children such as mental illness, cerebral palsy at an early age and provide them proper treatment, an Early Intervention Centre (EIC) would be launched at the District Wenlock Hospital in the city within a month.

Addressing a press conference in the city on Saturday, Mr Khader said that several children grow up with disabilities only because those disabilities have gone unnoticed at an early age. Most of such disabilities can be rectified and a new lease of life can be given to children, if identified at an early age.
He said that that the EIC will be set up utilizing funds available under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and National Health Mission. Children screened at schools and various health camps under RBSK will be referred to the intervention centre, he said.
The centre will provide first point of screen for developmental delays and disabilities from new born to about 6 years of age, thereby helping the doctors in tackling childhood disabilities at an early stage.
Dr U V Shenoy, nodal officer for the Early Intervention Centre, said that Dakshina Kannada is the first district to avail this facility in the state.
He said that resource person for the centre is ready and equipments have also arrived. Techniques and therapies at an early stage and prevent defects noticed at later stages of a child’s life in the new centre, he said.
Dr Rajeshwari, Superintendent, Wenlock Hospital, said that they had identified 622 children who need early intervention and suitable treatment will be given to them under this programme. Artificial limbs, hearing machine and required materials will be given to the children with the disability free of cost, she added.
Earlier in the day, Mr Khader Khader visited the psychiatric department at Nitte Hospital and celebrated Eid-ul-fitr with the patients.








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