K.G. Sajeeth Kumar, Principal, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, and N. Rajendran, District Medical Officer, releasing a calendar with pictures drawn by children afflicted with spinal muscular atrophy, at an event on January 18.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement 

A family meet of children afflicted with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and their parents was held at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) attached to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, on Saturday (January 18).

SMA is a rare genetic disorder because of which the muscles of the patients become weak. A release said 50 children and parents from Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts attended the event. It was inaugurated by K.G. Sajeeth Kumar, Principal, Government Medical College. A hands-on therapy session was held for the parents and pamphlets giving additional information on SMA were distributed among them. An exhibition of paintings by the children was held along with this. A calendar with these pictures was released as well.

This was followed by a session on the rehabilitation of children with SMA. Doctors from the departments of paediatrics, neurology, pulmonology, orthopaedics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation cleared parents’ doubts. The State government is giving medicines worth lakhs of rupees for free to around 100 children with SMA in various districts under the Kerala United Against Rare Disease scheme, the release added.