Healthcare services extended to over 57,000 persons with disabilities in Tiruchi

More than 57,000 persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Tiruchi district have benefited from healthcare services under the Tamil Nadu RIGHTS project, an initiative aimed at strengthening access to medical and rehabilitation support for the PwDs.

Launched by the Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, the TN RIGHTS initiative, backed by funding from World Bank, aims to ensure inclusive access to essential services for PwDs, promote their social participation, and create a detailed social registry to improve delivery of benefits and interventions. The social registry enrolment includes detailed data on education, health needs, therapy and welfare scheme access for persons identified through door-to-door survey.

Under the initiative, Tiruchi district has organised screening camps and medical outreach efforts where specialists and community health workers have assessed beneficiaries, provided rehabilitation support, facilitated disability certification, and distributed assistive devices where necessary.

A total of 57,163 individuals, including 6,316 from urban and 50,847 from rural areas, have been enrolled and are receiving rehabilitation services. About 22 centres, four in the city and 18 in rural areas, have been established to provide assistance. Each centre has a physiotherapist, two special educators, and a case worker.

Regular camps are being held to register PwDs under welfare schemes, and about 58,753 individuals have been issued Unique Disability Identity cards in the district.

R. Ravichandran, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer, Tiruchi, said the initiative had strengthened linkages between healthcare providers, social care workers, and district administration, making it easier for differently-abled individuals to receive benefits without hurdles.

“Tiruchi is one of the districts where the initiative is being implemented effectively. We aim to provide inclusivity, accessibility, and opportunity to all PwDs, and we are working on making public places such as hospitals, temples, and others more accessible,” said M. Ramesh, Nodal Officer.

Four mobile health centres are also providing doorstep healthcare services for early identification and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The vehicles cover places, including Khajamalai, Ponmalai, and Ariyamangalam, in the city. The specially equipped vehicle is staffed with four paramedics, including a therapist and audiologist, and features physiotherapy, audiometry, and optometry compartments, as well as facilities for wheelchair access and CCTV surveillance.