Case Study of the Day: Samarpan – Early identification and intervention to check disability in Madhya Pradesh

Samarpan is a unique intervention conceptualised for the early identification, screening, treatment and rehabilitation of children with developmental delay or physical disability in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. It was launched in 2011 by the district administration in collaboration with the Departments of Public Health & Family Welfare (PHFW), Women and Child Development (WCD), and the District Disabled Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC).

Services under Samarpan Programme

• The Samarpan Early Intervention Clinic (EIC) is a one-stop shop for all children with developmental delays or physical disabilities. It provides a range of services, including:
• Medical assessments, Neurological assessments, Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Psychological services, Cognitive development and Speech and language therapy

Success of  Samarpan

• Samarpan has screened over 105,000 children and identified over 2,300 children with delays in developmental milestones. Of these, over 1,100 children have received intervention services at the EIC.
• The Samarpan intervention has been highly successful in early identification and intervention of children with disabilities. It has helped to improve the quality of life for many children and their families. Samarpan has also been replicated in other districts of Madhya Pradesh and has been recognized as a good practice by the National Health Mission.

Key features of the Samarpan intervention

• Early identification: Samarpan focuses on early identification of children with developmental delays or physical disabilities. This is important because early intervention can have a significant impact on the child’s development.
• Convergence of services: Samarpan brings together a range of services under one roof, which makes it more convenient for families to access. This also helps to ensure that children receive the right services at the right time.
• Community-based approach: Samarpan works with communities to raise awareness about developmental delays and disabilities. This helps to ensure that children are identified early and that families are supported to access the services they need.
• Training of parents and caregivers: Samarpan provides training to parents and caregivers on how to support their children with disabilities. This helps families to better understand their child’s needs and to provide them with the right care.

The Samarpan intervention is a valuable example of how early identification and intervention can improve the lives of children with disabilities. It is a model that can be replicated in other parts of India and the world.

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