When National Organisation for Social Empowerment aka National NGO founded National Rehab Center in 2013, it was the beginning of one of their many micro—level social interventions. There was a vision to heal, which was accompanied by a mission to provide adequate healthcare to the underprivileged sections of the society. Today, it is a full-fledged facility in Tughlakabad providing free healthcare services to over 15 new patients each day. The experienced physiotherapists and speech therapists at the centre treat children with motor disorders like cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, hypotonia and speech disorders so that they can lead a better life independent of any external assistance.
“It was my personal desire to do something for a vast majority of the community who often struggle helplessly with diseases and disorders because they are unable to afford proper medical care,” says Mr. Amandeep Singh, the Managing Trustee of National NGO when asked about the drive which led him to establish National Rehab Centre. He adds, “I especially wanted to help people with central nervous system insults.” Under his dedicated direction, the rehabilitation centre is run by nearly 20 staff members comprising of medical professionals (General Physician, Physiotherapist and Speech Therapist etc.), psychologists, special educators and social workers among others.
While there are certain patients who come from other parts of the city, most of the visiting patients come from neighbouring slum areas like Bhumiheen Camp. Dr. Anumeha, who has been working with the rehab centre since its formation, fondly remembered her relationship with the patients, “Speech therapy and physiotherapy are long processes. Often one can observe successful changes only after 6 months or more of continuous sessions. After numerous sittings with the patients, they become like family.” She recollected the story of a 2 years old Sabhya who has Hypotonia (a state of excessively reduced muscle strength) and is showing steady improvement. Others like Sarthak – a 4 years old boy suffering from speech disorder, a 7 years old Priyanka who has cerebral palsy and a 62 years old Hazaree Lal struggling with cervical disorders have also benefitted from constant advice of the experts at the centre.
The rehab centre also provides free—of-cost orthotic and prosthetic supports to its patients. Very often some patients with acute medical conditions also turn up at the centre seeking help. In such situations, these cases are referred to another project of the NGO - Project ‘Cure India’ and the organisation shoulders the responsibility of financing complete medical treatment of the patients.
With education being another priority area of the organisation, National NGO holds regular classes in the rehab centre during the weekdays for assisting in the educational development of the local children. In an unprecedented gesture, the organisation has also launched a ‘Teach Women’ campaign to train and augment the competence of the mothers of the children attending school at the rehab centre.
National NGO has been at the forefront in offering support during times of natural calamities, in ensuring food security and in attempting to build an equal, socially inclusive world. The organisation hopes to expand its reach to positively impact an even greater no. of lives in the future.
