'El Shadai' RBC Instituto Psicopedagógico

A community-based rehabilitation programme for children with visual, hearing, mental and physical impairment.

The programme provides a comprehensive service to children with a wide range of impairments. Photo: El Shadai.

Supported by CBM since 1997, the 'El Shadai' programme takes a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach to delivering a range of health services to children with visual, hearing, mental and physical impairments in Cedros, Porvenir and San Ignacio areas.

The programme's emphasis is on prevention, early detection and intervention, raising public awareness, and networking with parents. The programme uses radio and television to raise awareness about disability.

Home and school visits as well as training sessions are important components of the programme, with the programme undertaking nearly 7,000 home visits each year. The programme has 142 community volunteers and provides regular training events to more than 600 patients.