Ludhiana, August 1: Ahmedabad-based orthopaedician Dr Dhiren Ganjwala has operated upon six chilldren suffering from cerebral palsy in the city. During his visit to the city organized by Aashirwaad, an NGO, dedicated to the cause of such children, Dr Ganjwala conducted operations voluntarily.

‘‘Our aim is to provide these children a normal living. I have had patients who were unable to even sit. After the operation, they can walk themselves. The younger the child, the better are the results of the operation,’’ says Dr Ganjwala.

Adds Dr R S Sodhi, Medical Superintendent of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital who also runs Aashirwaad, ‘‘We are educating paediatricians to identify cerebral palsy within the first few months of birth. ’’

Dr Ganjwala has been associated with Aashirwaad for the last many years and visits the city every year for conducting these operations. ‘‘Whenever I see my patients recovering, a strange sense of happiness sweeps over me. Children with cerebral palsy are not burden on anyone. They are just like other childen but need a little more care.’’

Dr Sodhi highlighted that Aashirwaad started with three children six years ago, and today extends help to 350 children. ‘‘It is very fortunate that more parents are awakening to this issue. We at times get parents who do not know what to do with a cerebral palsy child, and in their confusion they subject the to utter neglect. At Aashirwaad we counsel them, work for the rehabilitation of the child and try to provide them subsidised medical care,’’ he pointed out. The operations were conducted for these patients at very nominal charges.