A therapeutic park with a sensory garden for special children has been established at the government medical college hospital in Vellore. The District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC), with which the park is integrated, aims at early detection and management of birth defects, diseases in children, deficiency conditions and developmental delays, including disabilities in children from birth to 18 years of age.
The DEIC at Vellore covers 20 blocks. Each block has two doctors, who visited anganwadi centres and schools to screen children and refer them to DEIC for further evaluation and intervention.
“The Indian Oil Corporation has sponsored the therapeutic park for special children visiting the DEIC. It has been set up at a cost of ₹23 lakh. Apart from this, over ₹two lakh was contributed by 1983 batchmates of Stanley Medical College,” said E. Theranirajan, Professor and Head of Paediatrics Department of Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore.
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Features for children
Xylophones, drums, tone bells, metallophone require visual attention, hand-eye co-ordination and visual tracking which help children in detection of sound. ‘Sand pit, bare foot path way activities’ are there to integrate touch sensation. Playing in sand, feeling soft toys, running hands through cold water aid children in exploring the environment through touch. The children learn to co-ordinate, organise, discriminate and interpret touch appropriately.
Another feature at the sensory park is ‘Olfactory: Sense of smell’. This helps children to recognise different smells whether they are dangerous, strong, faint, pleasurable or foul. The ‘Gestatory’ system allows the children to recognise the five base taste sensations. This is meant to keep them safe from ingesting things that are toxic, spoiled or inedible. Fish tank, colourful pictures, coloured lights, work closely with vestibular and auditory system and help children safely navigate the environment by orienting them as to where they are in relation to other objects.
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The facility was inaugurated by Collector A. Shanmuga Sundaram, who said that despite the increase in the number of differently-abled children, the awareness level is still low. Parents should use the medical advancements to detect deficiencies during pregnancy and also after birth, as early intervention is important to rehabilitate these children.
The Department of Welfare of the Differently-Abled has been asked to prepare a list of persons affected by various disabilities and they would be brought under the schemes being implemented by the State Government for the welfare of the differently-abled persons.
Government Vellore Medical College Dean R. Selvi, Executive Director (TN), Indian Oil Corporation, P. Jeyadevan, General Manager (HR), TN, Indian Oil Corporation, S. Seetharaman, Deputy Director of Health Services, Vellore, K.S.T. Suresh, Vellore City Municipal Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian, Medical Superintendent, GVMC, Rajavelu, RMO C. Inbaraj and Associate Professor T. Sivaraman participated.