MNC@Ramnad

Following a UNICEF supported project, sponsored by the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP) and executed by MNC, the Centre conducted a five-day disability camp in Chennai for 30 children with multiple disabilities from the district of Ramnad, Tamil Nadu ,requiring immediate and inevitable medical and educational interventions from the 29 th of October to the 2 nd of November, 2001. This population of disabled children and their “high risk” mothers were examined. Most children [of those examined] showed manifestations of orthopedic disability and visual hearing impairments, besides having health conditions related to moderate to severe malnutrition. It was seen that the main cause for the large number of disabled children in that particular area was the lack of timely antenatal care of pregnant mothers, inaccessibility to well equipped hospitals and clinics for delivery and severe malnutrition in mother during pregnancy.

Over 16 specialists from different disciplines attended the camp giving the required consultations and rehabilitative treatment to the children. At the end of the camp, the identified children/mothers who were given the required immediate and inevitable early intervention were tracked at Ramnad for further follow ups. Three of the children who had the birth defect of cleft palate and hare lip had been surgically treated totally free of cost thanks to the SMILE project at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital, Porur, Chennai. This set the ball rolling for over 70 others who with the efficient planning at the Collectorate , Ramnad who also benefited from the corrective surgery at the hospital mentioned earlier.

MNC in Chennai Colonies

A similar endeavour was carried out in a few slum colonies in the neighbourhood of MNC. The selected population consisted of members of households [over 1400] located in the area. MNC used its own parent groups and executed the project.

1. The theme of disabilities, care during pregnancies, safe nutrition practices and personal hygiene practices were presented through talks, open discussions, presentations, video clippings and practical workshops.
2. Adolescent girls and boys were educated on responsibilities of parenthood
3. Newly married couples were advised to seek psychological and medical help in preparation for parent hood.
4. Guidance was given to expectant mothers in taking appropriate prenatal care for safe delivery. Advise was also offered on information on personal hygiene and health to prevent infections during pregnancy.
5. Young mothers were educated on handling their new borns to prevent infections and in infant stimulation.

Specialists from different disciplines [audio therapist, malformation corrective therapists, geneticist, nutritionist, general physicians, and the like] were invited for this project and free assistance and counseling were provided to the families.

At the end of the project, small service groups were formed among the population to reinforce the programme on an ongoing basis.