Prevention & Rehabilitation
Local and sustainable embedding of prevention and rehabilitation
Objective of the Prevention and Rehabilitation Program is directly focussed on Karuna’s mission (saving children from disability, one by one) and is complementary to the health care system and disability policy of the Nepalese government.
Since end of 2011, this strategy is being implemented in 7 new villages of Sunsari and Rasuwa, after an agreement has been signed with the Village Development Rehabilitation Committee. This Committee is formed by the VDC secretary, health workers, parents of a disabled child, school masters, political leaders. The Committee mobilizes local resources, encourages local leaders and coordinates with the health workers in order to improve the preventive health care.
Through trained community based rehabilitation workers, rehabilitation activities are being realized. Together with the parents, an individual plan is developed based on the local possibilities. Priority is to improve of the lives of children with a disability and their families through the plans prepared and supported by the local community.
Components Prevention
- strengthen the existing maternal and child health care.
- awareness regarding prevention and rights of children with a disability through street-theatre, wall paintings, campaigns and information spread by the Female Community Health Volunteers.
Components Rehabilitation
- Medical support (operations, physiotherapy, assistive devices)
- Education if possible in the normal school system (inclusive education), and for severe disabled children specialized education
- Vocational training
- Self-help groups
- Lobby to get Identity Cards for Disabled Children based on which they have rights to special services and allowances
