TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: A nationalised bank, a non-government organisation and a school have collaborated to play a key role in providing benefits to a number of children with special needs.
The need for a physiotherapy centre at the Sanjay School for Special Education in Porvorim had been felt for some time, and the centre finally materialised when the State Bank of India and Rotary Club of Mapusa offered the facilities to Sanjay School.
“The physiotherapy centre is an essential part of such schools. The Sanjay School management decided to start this centre on a priority basis for the benefit of students. The management appointed Dr Eusebio Jason Fernandes (physiotherapist) to look after these children,” the Sanjay School Managing Committee Chairman Guruprasad Pawaskar told Herald.
Launched as a Red Cross Project in 1981, the Sanjay School for Special Education was later handed over to the Provedoria in 1983. In 2010, Sanjay School of Provedoria was transferred to an autonomous society ‘Sanjay Centre for Special Education.’
The school management commenced a physiotherapy centre and 70 students have been availing the benefits of this Centre.
“Dr Fernandes is being assisted by Supriya Naik. All devices and equipment required for the centre have been sponsored by State Bank of India and Rotary Club of Mapusa. The management also plans to start a full-fledged pre-vocational centre and a nursery on small scale to generate interest among students about plants,” said Pawasker.
When contacted, Dr Fernandes described physiotherapy as a clinical health science that “aims to rehabilitate and improve children with movement disorders by using evidence-based, natural methods like exercise, motivation and adaptive equipment.”
“Many children, particularly those with special needs, have some movement dysfunctions. Children having celebral palsy and movement disorder are being treated in this physiotherapy center. Focus is also laid on the children with Down’s Syndrome and autism.”
“The centre has a full-fledged paediatric set up, standing frames, crutches, walkers, etc. The functions of physiotherapy centre include stretching and strengthening of all major muscle groups, gripping and holding objects, picking up of pen and pencil, eye-hand coordination, etc.”
“The duration of training is 30 to 40 minutes per day. The presence of parents is important while training children who are severely affected. Parents can learn and repeat the same exercises at their homes. Thus, there is a double benefit,” explained Dr Fernandes.
Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the physiotherapy centre at the Sanjay School, Dr Fernandes added, “The children have started showing remarkable improvement after undergoing treatment at the centre.”
Concurring with his views, Janaki Korgaonkar of Candolim told Herald that her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, has shown a lot of improvement after attending the physiotherapy centre at the Sanjay School.
“My daughter can now walk with the help of a walker with minimum support,” said Korgaonkar.
Similarly, Shalini Bhomker from Cumbharjua also stated that her daughter has improved considerably after availing the benefits of the physiotherapy centre.
