Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 12 September 2024
The Block Project Office, Wimberlygunj, organized a Medical Assessment Camp for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Wimberlygunj. The event aimed at providing essential medical evaluations and support for students with special needs.
Dr. Manoharan, Deputy Education Officer of Wimberlygunj, attended the event as the chief guest and highlighted the importance of such medical camps in addressing the needs of differently-abled children. He emphasized that early detection and support through medical assessment could significantly enhance the quality of life for these children.
In a ceremony during the camp, the chief guest, along with the medical team, distributed various aids and appliances to the CwSN students. These included hearing aids, wheelchairs, and specialised footwear. The initiative was supported by the State Project Office under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Prominent guests at the event included Mr. V. Raju, Assistant Project Officer, and Mr. Sakthi Kumar, Special Educator from Samagra Shiksha. Mr. Santosh Mondal, another Special Educator, served as the external observer, while Mr. Srinivas Rao, Primary School Teacher (PST), acted as the internal observer. Medical experts from Kolkata, Mr. Sudeep Kumar Jena, Prosthetist & Orthotist, and Mr. Alok Kumar Sahu, Audiologist from ALIMCO, along with Dr. Geeta, Senior Resident in Paediatrics at PHC Wimberlygunj, also lent their expertise during the camp.
During the event, hearing aids were provided to three beneficiaries, two received wheelchairs, one was given a cerebral palsy (CP) wheelchair, and ankle-foot orthotic shoes were distributed to seven children. The medical team carried out assessments not only for the CwSN students but also for children suspected to have special needs.
The program commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Sangeeta Kumari, Special Educator and Programme Coordinator. A significant number of CwSN students, along with their parents, participated in the event, which also saw involvement from various education professionals including the District Education Officer (DEO) Wimberlygunj Zone, Block Resource Persons (BRP), CwSN representatives, and Special Educators.
The camp was a significant step towards ensuring that children with special needs in the region receive the necessary medical support to improve their mobility and hearing capabilities, empowering them to lead better lives.