Rural Pediatric Medical Camps to Identify & treat Intellectual Disability for children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

In India, 2% of the population; i.e. one in every 50, or over 26 million people suffer silently with their intellectual disability. There is a lack of awareness about Intellectual disability and lack of access to healthcare in rural areas .Children suffering from neurological disorders are not diagnosed or provided proper intervention in these areas.

Intellectual disability (ID), is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by significantly impaired intellectual functioning (such as learning, problem solving, judgement) as well as adaptive functioning (activities of daily life such as communication and independent living). Individuals with ID have an IQ under 70 (Normal IQ is 90-100) in addition to deficits in adaptive behaviours that affect their everyday life.

Since 2010, Jai Vakeel Foundation, organizes successful pediatric neurological medical camps across the districts of Maharashtra where trained doctors and medical professionals help families understand and identify Intellectual disability in young children.

The team consists of paediatric neurologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, nutritionists, ophthalmologists & EEG technicians,orthotist. The team of doctors is headed by Dr. Anaita Udwadia Hegde (Consultant Pediatric Neurologist at B.J. Wadia Hospital for Children and Jaslok Hospital).We identify on ground partners - local NGOs , therapists and doctors who continue to support the child and the family after their initial diagnostic intervention with the aim to integrate them into mainstream life.

In the past 9 years, approximately 20,000 consultations have been done across 12 districts in Maharashtra (primarily Nanded & Dhule), many of whom might have otherwise not received proper intervention and remained unattended. We conduct 4 camps every year (2 in Nanded and 2 in Dhule).

Jai Vakeel Foundation reach out to 2500 children with Intellectual & developmental disabilities annually through these rural camps to:

Identify and treat children with neurological problems.

Provide free investigations like EEG, MRI, and CT scans.

Provide free medication for neurological problems.

Provide free nutritional supplements and counsel parents.

Train and educate families regarding therapeutic intervention .

Provide free orthosis to help in mobility of the child. 

Follow-up after six months at the same district.