TURA: The District Level Screening Camp for Cleft Lip and Palate was on Friday held for all districts of Garo Hills region in a programme organized by Mission Smile, Guwahati, Assam in collaboration with District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC), RBSK under District Health Society, West Garo Hills at DEIC, RBSK in the premises of District Maternity and Child Hospital, Tura.
It may be mentioned that patient identification is being done every day but Mass Screening camp is being held in order to create awareness for the people especially for cleft patients and contribute towards the goal of Cleft Free Meghalaya.
During the programme, West Garo Hills, Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh urged the concerned parents to avail the opportunities provided by the government free of cost to the people and help in changing the lives of these children and give them a childhood that every child deserves.
West Garo Hills District Medical and Health Officer, Dr M R Sangma informed that the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC), RBSK is functioning under District Health Society and is looking after the Four D’s – Defect at Birth, Deficiency, Disease and Developmental Delays and Disability in all the districts of the region.
He also informed that there are RBSK teams including a Medical Officer, nurse and pharmacist in all the blocks who visit schools and anganwadi centres in the surrounding area to look out for the children of zero months to 18 years. if they find a child with any of the Four D’s then they refer them to nearest PHC or CHC and provide the necessary treatment for these children at DEIC, Tura, he added.
The Manager of DEIC, Tura J A Sangma informed that the centre has the staff strength comprising of Pediatrician, Medical Officer, Dentist, Dental Technician, Physiotherapist, Ophthalmic Assistant, Social Worker, Audiologist, Lab Technician, Data Entry Operator and Manager out of which Pediatrician and Audiologist are lying vacant at present. He further said that the Centre has signed an agreement with the Mohendro Choudhary Hospital, Guwahati, Assam and all the surgeries for Cleft Lip and Palate from the districts are being performed at Comprehensive Cleft Care Unit of this hospital.
About 200 cleft children from all the districts were screened during Friday’s screening camp held
