Navi Mumbai: A special health camp was recently held for differently-abled children at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) ETC Disability Education and Training Centre. The camp, part of the new academic year’s initiatives, aimed to provide routine health check-ups for children with various disabilities under one roof.
A total of 277 children underwent medical examinations during the camp. These included 114 children from the hearing-impaired section, 108 from the intellectually disabled section, 11 with multiple disabilities, 19 from the visually impaired section, and 25 from the outpatient department.
“The centre caters to children with various disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments, autism, visual impairments, learning difficulties, and multiple disabilities. We provide education, therapy, and a wide range of support services,” said an official from the ETC Centre.
Organized under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)—a national child health program that monitors the health of students in schools and Anganwadis—the camp focused on general health assessments and common seasonal illnesses. A team of medical professionals carried out the evaluations, checking for early symptoms and prescribing medication where needed.
“The children who participated in the camp are our own students. We currently have over 372 students enrolled, and several children also visit us for treatment from outside. With the onset of monsoon, this was a precautionary measure to ensure timely detection of seasonal ailments,” said Dr. Anuradha Babar, Director of the ETC Centre.
The free health camp was conducted in two sessions, each lasting two hours. Children showing early signs of illness, such as cough and cold, were given medical advice and necessary referrals.
“The response has been overwhelming, with most children accompanied by their parents. Going forward, we plan to adopt a more targeted approach by bringing in specialists to better support our students,” added Dr. Babar.
