To create awareness on cerebral palsy, a disease in children due to lack of oxygen during or after birth, a checkup camp on will be organised at Indian Medical Association (IMA) Building premises on Sunday. Children suffering from this disease will be given free treatment.
The information was given by Dr Arun Shukla, convenor of Bhagat Singh Shahadat Samaroh Samiti who is also the convenor of this programme. “Relating to this camp, six doctors from the field of Orthroplasty (surgical repair of joint) and Orthopaedic surgery (concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system) from Bangalore’s Sparsh Hospital will be treating the patients suffering with such disease. It includes CEO of the hospital Dr Y John along followed by his colleagues Dr Jayanth S Sampath, Dr Ashok Raj Koul, Dr Rewat laxman, Dr Prakash Kurtakoti and Dr Navin Tahsildar,” said Dr Arun.
As many as 100 doctors of various disciplines were briefed about the cause and treatment procedures of the disease by the above mentioned specialists at a meeting on Saturday evening. The camp is basically being coordinated through IMA Jharkhand chapter, Bhagat Singh Shahadat Samaroh Samiti and Deepshikha NGO. Notably, the information about this camp was spread through reports published in local newspapers including The Pioneer on October 26. Dr Arun informed that about 400 patients have already registered for this free check up medical camp.
“The list includes patients from Pakur, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Palamau districts,” said Dr Arun. Adding more about this disease IMA Jharkhand Chapter’s Secretary Dr Shekhar Choudhuri said that in Jharkhand, there are no proper facilities to treat cerebral palsy. “There are cases of cerebral palsy in our state. But, no survey has been conducted on this matter till date. In fact, people are not aware about this disease. Moreover, there are no facilities like treatment modalities, drugs and operation for this specific disease,” Dr Shekhar maintained.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy include monoplegia which is a paralysis of a single limb, usually an arm. It also includes hemiplegia, affecting either the upper or lower portion of the body. Explaining further, Dr Arun Kumar quoted, “We will identify the needs of such children in this camp. The disease is cured with BOTOX injection or by surgery. It depends on the patient’s requirement. This is exactly what we will be doing in the check up camp.”
IMA doctors have decided to approach the State Government for the Below Poverty line (BPl) children who are in need of finance for this kind of surgery. The camp will begin from 8 am and conclude at 6 pm. IMA Jharkhand chapter President Dr AK Singh and IMA Ranchi President Dr RS Das would also accompany the Bangalore doctors during this check up programme.