With a twin inauguration event on the schedule - of a Physiotherapy centre for the Inclusive Education for Disabled Children (IED) section, and the other of a health camp organised by the Child Development Centre (CDC) for the students - the Government Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Pattom, was a beehive of activities on Monday.
A couple of large exercise balls, a small grey trampoline, a wheel attached to the wall and a small play-pen filled with multi-coloured balls are among the 26 new items that have made their home in the school's new Physiotherapy centre.
"They are meant for the children's exercise," said Sheeja Evans, one of the four resource teachers in the school's IED unit. "A physiotherapist has been appointed for the centre - Dr K Chellammal, of Ananthapuri Hospital."
While discussions between the parents of the differently-abled students, headmistress V S Sheela Rani and R Rajan, Deputy Director (IED) were being held in the new Physiotherapy centre, a meeting of a different kind was going on in the school's auditorium, with CDC Director Dr M K C Nair taking a class on 'Reproductive Health in Adolescent Girls'. This lecture was as part of CDC's silver jubilee week celebrations.
He advised the high school girls to pay attention to their health to avoid reproductive complications later in life.
"You might have heard of Rubella, which is a rather mild infection," Dr Nair told the girl students.
"But if a pregnant woman contracts Rubella, it poses a big threat to the baby and can cause growth retardation, mental retardation, heart and liver problems etc. So it is better to take a Rubella vaccine as soon as possible if you have not been vaccinated already."
With the help of diagrams and pictures, Dr Nair also spoke about the complications that could arise from Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCO).
"About 73 per cent of children who report irregular menstruation have PCO," he said. "Irregular periods, excessive growth of body and facial hair, a blackening of the neck are all symptoms of PCO. This will not only affect your physical health but also your confidence. The only way to treat PCO is by exercising regularly."
A team of doctors conducted a health check-up for the girls, where they were distributed questionnaires to assess their reproductive and mental health.
"I had written that I get angry often," said Veena V S, a class XI student. "They told me that it was normal but advised me not to let my anger get the better of me."
The programme was inaugurated by K Muraleedharan MLA.
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