Baramulla
Baramulla has been one of our intervention areas for the past fourteen years. It is one of those districts that suffered the onslaught of violence rendering a large number of people disabled. However, physical rehabilitation services were often inaccessible or expensive, especially for poor and marginalized people with disabilities. Physical Rehabilitation services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and audiology. Often such professionals were either unavailable or inadequate numbers to offer services to people with disabilities. Hope Centre conducted a survey supported by a European donor namely Handicap International to identify people with disabilities to offer them rehabilitation services free. The rehabilitation was offered in dual mode viz: institutional and community level. In the institutional mode, people with disabilities were offered services at the Physical Rehabilitation Centre located at Hope Centre's main office at Wayil and through Community the rehabilitation mode in a variety of settings, such as schools, community centres, and places of worship. This makes it easier for people with disabilities to access these services and fit them into their daily schedules. In CBR mode we have been using mobile rehabilitation clinics in order to travel to rural and underserved areas to provide physical rehabilitation services to people with disabilities who would otherwise have difficulty accessing these services. In the district Baramulla 2215 beneficiaries have received follow-up services over the last four years. The number of aids and appliances given to beneficiaries during this period stands at 1008, the number of prosthetic and orthotic devices given is 166 (Prosthesis 53, Orthotics 113), caregiver training 1361, home modifications 20, inclusive, cultural events 06, community awareness camps 80, number of people trained in ASHA/Anganwadi stands at 185 etc It is important to note that physical rehabilitation services are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The specific services that a person with a disability needs will vary depending on their individual needs and circumstances. It is important to work with a team of professionals, such as doctors, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, to develop a personalized rehabilitation plan.