News

Volume 2 Issue 17 - September 01, 2004

Aanchal to help mentally challenged children

DNIS News Network - The NDMC has inaugurated Aanchal, an intervention centre to help detect disabilities in mentally challenged children.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has set up an early Intervention Centre at Aanchal Special School for Mentally Handicapped Children in Chanakya Puri. The new unit is designed to caring for mentally disabled children from the ages of 0 to six years, with the coordination of society and parents.

The centre's staff is trained to detect disability at an early stage. The subsequent care and attention helps the children to achieve their full potential.

The NDMC Secretary UK Worah urged parents to be alert and careful, and not to ignore the needs of their children, as with timely care, such children could be cured.

The NDMC Director (welfare) Ranjana Deswal, listed out the details of the programme. He pointed out that the first six years of a child's life are crucial for learning and growth. For this reason, professionals at the centre will be assessing, guiding and supporting children and their families through producing pamphlets, organising workshops for parents and enabling interaction with professionals.

The unit will coordinate with NDMC's Hospital and Mother & Children Welfare Centres in order to get early referrals. It will also conduct training programmes for health workers to help them identify the children with disabilities.