Day Care Centre

Following consultation with the Head of the Paediatric Department of the Goa Medical College we identified an urgent need to help disabled children and in October 2007 were able to open the very first of its kind Day Care Centre for Physically Handicapped Children in Goa.

The children who attend are from families who are not in a position to access rehabilitation facilities and would otherwise have a bleak future; these are referred to the Centre by the Goa Medical College Hospital and other district hospitals and NGO’s.

The majority are children suffering from Cerebral Palsy but others include Down’s syndrome, Congenital Hydrocephalus, and other birth anomalies and acquired brain lesions. All require specialist attention from trained therapists if they are to progress in life.

We are fortunate to have working for us three qualified Physiotherapists, one being a specialised Paediatric Physiotherapist and a speech therapist who are very dedicated to their work with the children.

Each child is individually assessed to determine the extent of their disability and the type of treatment that will be needed to help them lead a fuller life.

A treatment protocol is planned and the child’s parents are required to attend the therapy sessions so that they can be taught basic self help skills and exercises, to be carried out at home, that will augment the therapy provided by the doctors.

Each child's progress is monitored and recorded on video therefore enabling the doctors to record progress and assess any treatment changes that may be necessary.

Specialised equipment was purchased prior to opening the Centre and as funds permit additional apparatus has been added.

In addition to offering free treatment we have to provide transport for many of the patients to ensure continuity of therapy as travel expenses are prohibitive and for some the distance to the Day Care Centre is too far for their parents to carry them.

There has been a marked improvement in some of the children as with one boy who had no use of his limbs whatsoever who is now walking with the aid of parallel bars. In another case an eight-year-old boy who was denied schooling because he could not control his limbs is now attending normal school.
Following these successes we must now contemplate extending the facilities we offer to include occupational therapy as we progress to holistic care of children with disabilities.

We have held dental workshops where qualified dentists have visited at their own expense and carried out check-ups on the children. This has resulted in the children receiving treatment at the local hospital which will be followed up by regular check-ups.

We currently have up to 30 children who attend therapy sessions, some once a week and some twice a week depending on their needs.

The building
Ball pool (balls donated by Exmouth Raleigh Rotary)