experience
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for the differently-abled children
NIMS Medicity, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the largest health care centers in South Kerala and South Tamilnadu and function as a part of the 68-year-old Noorul Islam Educational Trust. It has long been realized that apart from state of the art health care services, we also need to focus on the ‘Specially Abled’ children needing our care and support. Neuro-developmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. According to the World Bank, one in every 12 households in India has a person living with disability. Hence, it is our endeavour to transform NIMS Medicity into a disabled friendly zone, offering unparalleled prevention, early detection, early intervention and community rehabilitation facilities, which would be the first disability-friendly hospital in the private sector in Kerala, providing high quality, cost effective, state-of-the-art services to all the needy children.
Our Motto: “Reduction of disability through Habilitation efforts”
With the rising number of test tube babies, preterm babies, other high risk babies-a developmental team should be prepared for “habilitation rescue” from day-1 of life. The Neonatologist-Developmental Pediatrician-Developmental Therapist/Developmental Nurse Counsellor team should start Habilitation-or simply put-early intervention services to prevent disability rather than wait for the child to become disabled to re-habilitate. Every child should be allowed to metamorphose like a butterfly and he/she must dream and pursue his life goals to the maximum extent possible and Spectrum hopes to achieve it in 3 ways;
- Habilitate-act early,
- Rehabilitate-best resources to the best extent
- Acceptance – help the family to accept the child and help the society to accept the family.
NIMS-Spectrum-Child Developmental Research Centre (NIMS-SPECTRUM-CDRC) is being developed, with a “spectrum approach” to childhood disability (0 – 18 years) with three major divisions namely;
- Clinical Child Development division for prevention, early detection and early intervention of developmental issues, physical, mental, psycho-social and speech issues.
- Specialized therapy division for developmental delay /disorders/disability.
- Comprehensive Health Care division for differently abled children.
CDRC: Individual Child Services
A regular OP is conducted daily from Monday to Saturday where we cater to children with various developmental disorders of all ages and stages.
A comprehensive evaluation of the child including a detailed history taking and clinical evaluation is done
Various parameters like behavioural issues social structure, family support ,his routine day activities etc are all considered to plan an individual child pla
An adolescent clinic catering to teens (Bright clinic) also runs parallely under the tutelage of a clinical psychologist.
We all have a LD clinic where children with learning disabilities are guided by trained doctors.
We use standardized validated tools to avoid false branding of diseases and avoiding unnecessary mental strife to parents.
A detailed Individual care plan is drawn for every child which includes work up, referral, rescue or rehab team services, family counselling and follow up of these children to assess improvements.
Regular faculty meetings are kept to discuss the progress of patients and inputs from all departments.
Neyyattinkara Pension Planvj
“Neyyattinkara Pension Plan” is a monthly pension scheme established by NIMS Medicity for the benefit of the differently abled children in Neyyattinkara Municipality and Athiyannoor, Koolayil, Kottukal, Balaramapuram, Perumkadavila, Kalliyoor panchayats.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, one of the most affected groups was the disabled children and their families. Along with continued therapies and training, nutritional food is also highly essential for the welfare of the disabled children. Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the financial condition of this group of people were so pathetic that they did not have enough even to provide nutritional food to their disabled children.
It was in this back ground NIMS initiated a new scheme namely Neyyattinkara Pension Plan, where a monthly pension was given to the disabled child to meet at least the cost of nutritional food of the child. Currently the pension is given to 251 disabled children belonging to Neyyattinkara Municipality and Athiyannoor, Koolayil, Kottukal, Balaramapuram, Perumkadavila, Kalliyoor panchayats. The project was inaugurated by Shri. P.K. Rajmohan, Chairman, Neyyattinkara Municipality on 11/06/2021.
“Neyyattinkara Pension Plan” will be completing five years in the month of June 7, 2026.
NIMS-Spectrum-Child Development Research Centre
It was visualized as a comprehensive project, utilizing the already existing infrastructure and health care professionals of NIMS, and consolidating the following 18 established assessment and therapy units under one umbrella.
NIMS Spectrum CDRC
The established mission of NIMS-Spectrum-Child Development Research Centre is to provide high quality, cost effective, state-of-the-art services to all needy, without any discrimination based on paying capacity. In this endeavor, we were fortunate to have services of Prof.(Dr). MKC Nair, D.Sc., Emeritus Professor-Research & Formerly the Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur and Emeritus Professor, Child Adolescent Behavioural Pediatrics & Founder Director of CDC Kerala.
At NIMS SPECTRUM CDRC, we believe that timely diagnosis and intervention can not only save a life of a baby but also help to give him a more fulfilling and wholesome life. Its natural for every parent to desire a normal child. The dejection and disappointment they face while dealing with a different and difficult child can take a toll on their family and social life. Unlike in developed countries, where the government allots a sizeable amount of budget for disability services, India unfortunately can’t do the same despite having a high burden of disease. Children often have to skip their therapies due to lack of funds or other social impounding factors.
Research, Training & Community activities
Conducting training programs and workshops for medical faculty
Conducting awareness classes for parents regarding general and developmental care of children
Conducting academics on developmental topics for nursing, psychology and MSW students-strengthening the various community workers is important so as to enhance early intervention therapies
Continuously updating regarding therapeutics-seeking the best for patients
Continuing research programs for evidence based therapies to ensure safe and proven therapies for children
Conducting public awareness programs to spread the word about the importance of early detection and intervention.
Courses offered
Fellowship in Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics under Indian College of Pediatrics
Fellowship in Developmental Nurse Counsellor under IAP NDP Chapter
Child Health Assistant under ASAP, Government of Kerala
CDRC: Billing Policy
A special billing policy will also be followed for specially abled persons below the age of 15 by the NIMS SPECTRUM project which is as follows:
“We give all we have and take what you give”
Though we bill them for the services provided, we will take only what they give…
NIMS-Anne Sullivan Centre for specially abled children
NIMS Medicity has already established its own rehabilitation centre named as “NIMS-Anne Sullivan Centre for specially abled children” at Neyyattinkara. NIMS also established Kerala’s first speech and audiology rehabilitation centre “without a bill counter” at Centre for Rehabilitation of the differently abled (CAD), LMS Polio Home, Thiruvananthapuram which has more than 500 inmates. Besides, NIMS is also providing free rehabilitation services to the needy students of “SAKSHAMA, Nemom, Trivandrum, KARUNYA MEDICAL MISSION, Neyyattinkara etc.. we have also signed MOU with rehabilitation centers such as Gerdi Gutperle Agasthiyar Muni Child CARE centre, Vellamadam, K.K. District, Shanthi Nilayam, Paruthivilai, K.K. District, Jyothi Nilayam, Palapallam, Karungal, K.K. District.