Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In order to spread awareness on congenital deformity at community level, a club-foot camp is being organised every Tuesday beginning this month to celebrate the Congenital Deformity Awareness Month to eliminate birth-related deformities.
The objective of the camp is to make the community aware of early identification, effective and timely treatment of birth defects. Following the same, various activities are being organised at the community level and health institutions in the district. During the camp, awareness sessions regarding deformities related to crooked legs, congenital heart disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and deaf-mute (0 to 5 years) were held.
The camps are collaborated with Anushka Foundation. Training is being provided to the concerned staff at all delivery centres. To generate public awareness at the community level, ASHA workers are being trained to motivate the community about the importance of a balanced diet for adolescent girls.
It further explains the importance of vaccinating women with folic acid tablets after marriage, followed by vaccination for spinal related congenital malformations, crooked legs, congenital heart disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and deaf-mute (0 to 5 years).
Number of children prone to congenital deformity
Type of congenital deformity
Children prone to CD
congenital heart disease
08
neural tube deformity
04
congenital deafness
06
cleft lip and cleft palate
01
crooked legs
02
congenital cataract
01
*the data is according to a study conducted in the year 2005 by the health department
Precaution at early stage
If we identify congenital malformation early, encourage correct health behaviour and provide timely treatment, then these problems can be avoided to a great extent. It is often seen that if a child is delayed in speaking, the parents consider it a normal process and ignore it, which later becomes serious. If the parents notice any abnormality at the time of birth of the child, they must take him to the District Hospital or District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC).
