PwD beneficiaries along with DC Dimapur Rajesh Soundararajan and other officials outside the premises of DDRC, Dimapur on April 8. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 8
In a significant step towards providing necessary assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) inaugurated its prosthetic and orthotic unit, located at District Hospital, Dimapur on April 8.
Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, DC of Dimapur and who is also the Chairperson of the District Management Team of DDRC, was present during the occasion along with a host of other government officials, NGO representatives and PwD beneficiaries.
In his keynote address, Rajesh Soundararajan commented that despite the challenges and resource constraints, the team working at DDRC have done a commendable job so far. “The DDRC team have been very practical and functional in their approach, which is why we are seeing the results of it today,” he said. He also mentioned how the community and especially the NGOs have come together to help the PwDs in receiving the required healthcare facilities throughout the years.
However, he reminded that “We still have a lot of scope and ground to cover but I am sure that the concerned stakeholders will make it possible. Remember that this is a collective effort and duty on the part of all of us to ensure that our friends receive the required help in various forms.”
DDRC in dire need of equipments
At the end of the programme, Dr Imlitemsu Ozukum, MD (PMR), Senior Specialist and in-charge of DDRC spoke with The Morung Express on the functioning of the centre.
He explains that, “DDRC is a place which is supposed to give all the facilities for the PwDs, such as treatment, rehabilitation and assistive devices such as wheel chair, blind sticks and hearing aids.”
However, he said that currently the centre is in dire need of equipments, trained workforce and more spacious areas for the patients. Along with that, he also mentioned that DDRC lacks sufficient funds to keep the centre up and running properly.
“The state needs to employ more rehabilitation professionals, such as prosthetist, orthotist and occupational therapists as well,” he shared.
Imlitemsu has stated despite the constraints, DDRC has been able to provide necessary help to about 1276 PwDs who received about 2189 assistive devices so far, with centrally assisted schemes and other resources.
