Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Apollo to screen 50,000 intellectually-disabled athletes

— PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

Strategic alliance: Denzil Keelor (Right), chairman of Special Olympics Bharat, exchanging MoU with Shobhana Kaminneni, chairperson of Lifetime Wellness Apollo, in Hyderabad on Thursday. At left is David Evangelista, Director of Special Olympics International, Washington.

HYDERABAD: The Apollo Hospitals Group on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Washington-based Special Olympics International (SOI) and Lifetime Wellness Rx International to screen 50,000 intellectually-disabled athletes.

As the first step, Apollo and Special Olympics Bharat together screened the health of 82 students of Lekhadeep and Nirmal Schools for children with intellectual disabilities.

The tests included general physical, dental, eyes, hearing, feet, fitness and nutrition and psychological tests, said Shobana Kamineni, chairperson, Lifetime Wellness Rx International.

Ms. Shobana said it was not the winning that mattered. That the challenged persons were given a chance to test their own special capabilities despite the handicap was a big boost to their own confidence levels.

Air Marshal Denzil Keelor, chairman, Special Olympics Bharat, said that psychological tests by a team from Apollo and the National Institute of Mental Health had found that 97 per of the children screened were intellectually-disabled, with 13 per cent having other disabilities.

Despite this, 78 per cent bathe and eat on their own, 76 per cent could move around in the neighbourhood and 74 per cent lend a helping hand in household chores, he said.

David Evangelista, Director, SOI said they were a worldwide non-profit organisation to help the intellectually-disabled through the medium of sports.

SOI was founded by the late Eunice Shriver, sister for former US president John F. Kennedy and was recognised by the International Olympics Committee.

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