News from Narasaraopet
Chiel Hamann, third-year student in physiotherapy, does his traineeship in a integrated school in Narasaraopet, India, where he treats children with mental and physical disabilities. He has done this a few months earlier in a comparable school in Sri Lanka.
Along with the physiotherapist and fieldworker
I went together with a physiotherapist looking for children with a disability in villages surrounding Narasaraopet, lately. So-called fieldworkers are responsible for an area to search and treat children with a certain disability. On a particular day, the physiotherapist visits the area together with the fieldworker, and this time I could come with them.
Disabilities
We visit children at school and at home. This way, we experience the local environment of the child. I am a visitor of poor families, but I am warmly welcomed. Many children with a physical and/or mental disability are concealed because they are titled as ‘different’. But especially the acceptation that a child with a disability is different and needs extra care, is a difficult subject.
Out of sight
Parents in South-east India, but probably also in a lot of other countries, want a child that is equal to the neighbour’s child. The children I visit, are mostly lying in a room in the back of the house. ‘Lying’, because a good supporting chair is lacking, and because the parents want them out of sight of any villagers. Especially these children would benefit of extra attention to their disability. A twist point which is encouraged by the local physiotherapist.
Attention for the children
In cooperation and consideration with this physiotherapist I investigate children lying on a bed or on the ground. I see children who are physically for a half or totally affected. Also on behalf of the muscle spasms in their bodies, it is too hard for them to individually walk or even sit. Furthermore, I advise parents what they could do with their child during everyday-activities as eating, sitting and going to the toilet. Our presence doesn’t remain unnoticed and attracts the attention of other villagers. Soon, more people are looking over my shoulder. It was a special experience, in which I was thoroughly challenged and sometimes saw heartbreaking things.
