A Center To Treat Children Born With Congenital Diseases Inaugurated In Trichy

A district early intervention center (DEIC) to treat children born with congenital heart diseases at an early stage was inaugurated at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. DEIC was inaugurated on August 23 by the state minister for health and family welfare, Dr C Vijaya Baskar. Minister Dr Baskar said, "Children who are screened and identified with defects and deficiencies soon after birth can be treated here. The center will also provide counseling to parents." He added that the intervention center aimed to create a healthy society in the state.

The DEIC focuses on four D's - Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases and Developmental delays. It would provide referral support to children up to six years of age. Babies of Babies of high-risk pregnant women are usually considered vulnerable to congenital diseases. High-risk pregnant women are closely monitored and their babies are put through the basic tests to find out if they have any disabilities. In case of symptoms of any of the four Ds, they will be referred to the center, where they will be given necessary treatment. Children diagnosed with symptoms of autism, cleft-palate, mental retardation, speech and hearing impairment, dyslexia and other problems are also be brought to the center for treatment.

The newly-inaugurated center will be one among the 31 DEICs in the state. The center will have two pediatricians, a dentist, a physiotherapist, a speech therapist, an optometrist, nurses and counselors. The center is equipped with all the necessary equipment, except a few equipment required for dental treatment. Terming the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme a "success", the health minister said around 1,400 cochlear implant surgeries had been performed under the insurance scheme in two years.

Source-Medindia