We partner with top Speech and Orthodontic specialists at Chennai’s Sri Ramachandra University (SRU) to provide care to rural families in the Thiruvannamalai District. The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences has entered into a new three-year phase, based out of the Sri Ramachandra University (SRU) in Chennai, began in 2011.
Two new districts have approached them and are hoping to replicate the project. Former patients, inspired by the care they received, are now volunteering to spread the word about the available programs and bring in new patients.
There has been considerable progress in the Cuddalore district, one of the two new districts. Ms. Andal Damodharan, Vice-president, Indian council for Child welfare, Tamilnadu, supported SRU in planning the initial activities in selecting the community workers, carrying out identification of children with cleft lip and palate and organizing speech and language camp.
A total of 36 individuals with cleft lip and palate were identified and informed about the speech and language screening camp by the community workers. A speech and language camp was organized at Childline office, Cuddalore on 28th July 2012 where speech and language screening was carried out for 22 individuals with cleft lip and palate.
Two individuals have undergone surgical intervention at SRU, 10 individuals are waiting to be reviewed and 4 individuals are already being reviewed at SRU.
Want to see our work in action? Check out these pictures from the speech camp activities at Cuddalore and Thiruvannamalai.