10,000 rickets affected children undergoing treatment
SHILLONG: The silver jubilee of ‘Caring for Disabled Children’, an initiative of the Salesians of Don Bosco to cure rickets, was celebrated on Sunday at the Sacred Heart College auditorium.
The meet brought together over 500 children from Shillong, Mairang and Mawkhyrwat as well as parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, priests and the religious.
The work was started for care and treatment of rickets affected children from all over Meghalaya. It was initiated with a small group of 14 children from Mawlai and the villages around, with just one doctor, Dr. Elangbam Singh and has grown into a huge endeavour with more than 10,000 children from all over Meghalaya presently undergoing treatment.
In these past years several persons have directed Caring, including late Fr. George Kottuppallil, Fr. Mathew Kariapuram and Fr. Shaji Puykunnel. The work is carried forward especially with the help and support of the staff and students of Sacred Heart College, Mawlai and several doctors, nurses, teachers and volunteers from around Shillong.
The project was initially started by Fr. Jose Chunkapura, a Salesian priest and professor at Sacred Heart College, way back in 1989 is in its Jubilee Year.
Fr. George Maliekal, the provincial of the Silchar Salesian province was the chief guest at Sunday’s programme, while Peter Passah, the BDO of Mylliem CRD Block was the guest of honour. Many doctors, nurses, volunteers and friends who form the Caring Team were remembered and honoured on the occasion. Several songs, dances and other items were presented by the children benefitting from the medical, educational and nutritional programmes offered by the Caring Team.
At the end of the programme, Fr. James Mani, a Salesian priest presented a magic show that was enjoyable especially for the children.
Rickets, an illness caused by calcium and other vitamin deficiency due to poor or unbalanced food habits, the lack of sufficient exposure to sunshine and so on, is a very common disorder in Meghalaya.
The deformities such as bow-legs, knock-knees can be completely cured through medicines and better nutrition, if care is given early enough when the bones are still tender.