- New Facility is ‘first-of-its-kind’ at B.J. Wadia Children’s Hospital, Disability Centre in Mumbai, India
- Special educational programs will train children with Multiple Disabilities with Visual Impairment (MDVI)
Boehringer Ingelheim and the Muskan Foundation recently inaugurated a ‘first-of-its-kind’ facility for children with Multiple Disabilities with Visual Impairment (MDVI), at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital, Mumbai. The facility will help to empower children with MDVI, drive awareness for their special needs and provide parents and teachers with the required knowledge to better understand the children’s difficulties.
“Through this initiative we are touching the lives of 102 children for a better future,” says Dipti Gandhi, Director of the Muskan Foundation. “At the center, we have individualised education programs, specially designed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of every child for his growth. These programs integrate therapists, parents as well as special educators,” she added.
Under the umbrella of Boehringer Ingelheim’s initiative “Making More Health”, the family-owned company wishes to reinforce the importance of having a normal life for children with special needs. “This is one of the many programs undertaken by Boehringer Ingelheim to fulfill our commitment to approach critical unmet challenges in global public health. At this unique facility, we hope to enable the children with MDVI to lead a normal life,” says Sharad Tyagi, Managing Director at Boehringer Ingelheim, India.
Emphasizing on the unique initiative at the hospital, Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children confirms that this kind of an initiative delivers better access, helps the families and support for children with disabilities. “Improving the access to health services is one of our key priorities. Thereby, the initiative aims to provide the entire medical and mental support system necessary for children with special needs. We are very happy with this initiative which will help improve the experience of disabled patients who visit the hospital,” she added.
In India, there are approximately two million disabled children up to 6 years old, out of which 1.4 million children live in rural and 590.000 in urban areas. 149.000 children have multiple disabilities. Teachers are not trained and schools do not have the infrastructure to deal with children with multiple disabilities.
“Under the umbrella of our global initiative we make positive impact happen – in a very tangible way. I am very proud that we could inaugurate this facility today together with local stakeholders. It makes the further milestone in our journey in India where we are running huge health programs for tribes in Tamil Nadu & Kerala,” says Manuela Pastore, global lead of Making More Health at Boehringer Ingelheim.