‘PRATHEEKSHA’ FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN

‘PRATHEEKSHA’

FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN

Pushpagiri Medical Society has set up a state-of-the art child development centre, Pratheeksha, attached to the Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital at Thiruvalla.According to Shaji Mathews Vazhayil, chief executive officer of the Pushpagiri Group of Institutions, and Fr Mathew Punakkulam, PMC director, Pratheeksha is a unique multi-disciplinary centre par excellence exclusively for child development and disability.

The centre will be managed by the Paediatrics Department at PMC in association with all the specialities involved in the case of children with special needs, said Fr. Punakkulam. Manju George Elanjickal, Associate Professor, would be in charge of the centre.She told  that the centre had got modern facilities for caring children with various challenges, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, childhood epilepsy, autism, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders, metabolic syndromes, learning disability, attention deficits, hyper activity, behavioural problems, sensoring, visual and hearing problems.She said early intervention, in case of delays and deviation from the normal path, was the crux of disability prevention.

Fr Punakkulam said the child development centre had got an experienced team of therapists and PMC would be happy to associate with various non-governmental organisations, philanthropists, and other centres for children with special needs in Central Travancore. The centre would also impart training to parents and conduct free medical camps, besides providing concessional diagnostics, he said.Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church, will inaugurate the centre on Monday afternoon. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla, Thomas Mar Coorilos, will preside.

Prof. John Kurakar