Special Olympics Bharat held free health screenings

Special Olympics Bharat organises the largest National Health Screening for over 78000 Persons with Intellectual Disability (Divyangjan)

Special Olympics Bharat yesterday successfully concluded the largest National Health Fest for people with Intellectual Disability(Divyanjan). This was an initiative by the government.

~ Over 100,000 free health screenings across 75 locations conducted on the occasion of World Health Day ~

~  With the highest number of medical professionals ever trained for an event, this initiative has made it to the Asia Book of Records ~
 

8 April 2022, Ahmedabad:  The initiative was launched under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative by the Government of India, on the occasion of World Health Day on April 7^th.

This initiative offered free health screening of a total of over 90,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities exceeding the target of 75,000 in over 75 cities of India to mark 75 years of India’s independence. The screenings were conducted by 7075 clinical volunteers, across 139 locations in 31 States, through an overwhelming support received at the National and local levels by the Government bodies, corporates and communities.

The maximum screenings in any one location were held in the Karnavati University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where over 7500 athletes were screened across Special Olympics key health screening initiatives.

 Speaking on the occasion, Additional Director, Karnavati University, Prof. (Dr) Rohan Bhatt said, “We had over 1800 volunteers on ground on the day of the screening including university students, doctors and Masters’ students working relentlessly. I am very thankful to them for being able to execute this mammoth task of successfully conducting screenings of over 7500 intellectually disabled athletes here at our premises.”

The National program culminated in a grand celebration held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, which was graced by His excellency Shri Acharya Devvrat and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the State of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister expressed, “Today has become a special day for Gujarat. This programme is aimed at the health of people with intellectual disabilities and has become a unique and inspirational one on the occasion of World Health Day. This National Health Fest will become an example of healthcare and boost the health of people with intellectual disabilities. It has shown a new path in their lives.”

Dr Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, Special Olympics Bharat, read out the message sent by the hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji, especially drafted for Special Olympics Bharat.

Expressing her thoughts later, Dr Nadda said, “Special Olympics Bharat has organised a national health fest today which has had a massive impact on the athletes with intellectual Disability. A record 1,00,000 health screenings have been successfully concluded today. I thank Shri Narendra Modi to change the nomenclature from ‘Viklang’ to ‘Divyang’ – these athletes are truly close to the divine and working for them is a service towards the progress of mankind.”

Also present on the occasion were star Indian Athletes Yogeshwar Dutt and Babita Phogat.

The three intervention areas for health screenings included Special Smiles (Dental), Opening Eyes (Eye examination), and Health Promotion (Preventive & Nutrition), bringing on board several medical organisations and institutions upholding the message of including the SO Bharat Athletes in the advancing health systems of the nation, on the World Health Day.

With this attempt Special Olympics Bharat has made it to the Guinness Book of Records for ‘Most people running in place simultaneously (multiple venues), wherein all the athletes did spot jogging for a minute across multiple locations.’

SO Bharat entered the Asia Book of Records for a ‘Maximum medical and sports professionals trained online for screening & training people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities that reached a total of 8772, exceeding the target of 7500.’

The World Talent Organisation awarded SO Bharat with largest number of people (Intellectually Impaired/IDD) participated in fitness training program in a week – (multiple locations). 

About SO Bharat’s Participation in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Upholding the World Health Day and celebrating an Inclusive health week, SO Bharat, envisioned an event aiming to medically screened 75000 athletes with intellectual disabilities on 5 and 7 of April 2022 across 75 cities of India marking the 75 years of independence.

Prior to the event 7500 clinical volunteers were planned to be trained according to the Special Olympics guidelines, to carry out the screenings effectively. The screenings would be held across Special Smiles (Dental) and Health Promotion (prevention & nutrition) and Opening Eyes (eye examination).

The Special Olympics Fit 5 demonstration (physical activity) was planned at the screening venues. Fit 5 is a plan for physical activity, nutrition, and hydration, aiming to improve the health and fitness of the athletes and persons from a cross-section of the society.

Mapping a legacy from this enormous event 750 Special Olympics Bharat Centers will be activated in phases across three years, encouraging the Athletes to include sports in their daily lives. The registrations of the athletes were executed through an indigenously designed mobile application promoting digital access and establish a monitoring system for the Athletes creating a timeline for each, also enabling a mind-set towards a robust digital approach.