Page 65 - Mann Ki Baat - November2022
P. 65

works  wonders  for  the muscles.
          It not only relaxes the muscles
          but also strengthens them.
          Hydrotherapy also has to be
          guided as it requires constant
          supervision.   Other     than
          exercises, a powered wheelchair
          can also make the life of a
          Muscular    Dystrophy-affected
          individual partially independent.
          Above all, a Muscular Dystrophy
          patient and his/her family need
          to come to terms with this
          disease and also need to learn
          how to manage and live with it
          with a positive attitude.
              In  Solan,  a  district  of
          Himachal     Pradesh,    there
          is  an   Integrated  Muscular
          Dystrophy  Rehabilitation  Centre
          (IMDRC), being run by the IAMD,
          established  in  1992.  A  50-bed
          facility  welcomes    patients
          and their families from all over
          India — for specialized guided    for these Muscular Dystrophy
          physiotherapy,   hydrotherapy,    patients will come from the
          and genetic and psychological     research which will bring forward
          counseling. It is also creating   the drugs for the cure. There
          a  support  group  of  afflicted   is a need to have a mission-
          patients  and  their  families  for   mode type research program
          retreats, bonding, and sharing.   for successfully tackling this
          This ecosystem of self-support    complex unmet need. The results
          in a beautiful living environment   will take time but a beginning
          has  grown  to include  over      has to be made. We can be the
          2,000 patients over the years.    leaders in bringing affordable
          Recreational activities involving   medicines and therapies to
          volunteers   from     different   the  Neuromuscular    Genetic
          educational  institutions  nearby,   population not only in our country
          picnics,   and    counseling–     but across the globe. This will be
          particularly for family members–   the most remarkable initiative
          help ease the lives of those      of the millennium to make India
          affected and afflicted.           ‘Atmanirbhar’ in drugs for the
              Management of the disease     treatment of Neuromuscular
          is important, but the boon        Genetic disorders.

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