Our efforts are dedicated to four aspects of head injury and brain trauma.
Awareness & Prevention – Pre-Hospital Care – In-Hospital Care – HomeRehabilitation
At IHIF, our mission is to foster the development of a comprehensive brain trauma care system in India. Simultaneously, we focus on conducting awareness programs to educate the masses about the scourge of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). With India unfortunately being the country with the highest rate of head injury in the world, we also take it upon ourselves to spread awareness on safety precautions, especially on the roads. Alongside this, we are tirelessly building upon the effective provision of pre-hospital care through first-aid training andthe provision of neuro-rehabilitation through IHIF rehab centres, two of which are up and running in Delhi and Jodhpur.
Over the past few years and our efforts in this field, we have realised that more than treatment and rehabilitation, it’s preventive measures and pre-hospital care during the ‘golden hour’ after a head injury case, that actually differentiate in decreasing the deaths due to head injury every year. A lot more can be done with a robust law, so we work to bring effective laws and ensure their strict enforcement.
Our efforts are showing results, especially with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, who have promised a new Road Transport and Safety Bill. We look forward to safer roads in India, and soon!
Our efforts are dedicated to four aspects of head injury and brain trauma.
Awareness & Prevention – Pre-Hospital Care – Post- Hospital Care – Home Rehabilitation
At IHIF, our mission is to foster the development of a comprehensive brain trauma care system in India. Simultaneously, we focus on conducting awareness programs to educate the masses about the scourge of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). With India unfortunately being the country with the highest rate of head injury in the world, we also take it upon ourselves to spread awareness on safety precautions, especially on the roads. Alongside this, we are tirelessly building upon the effective provision of pre-hospital care through first-aid training and the provision of neuro-rehabilitation through IHIF rehab centres, four of which are up and running in Delhi, NOIDA, Patna and Jodhpur.
Over the past few years and our efforts in this field, we have realised that more than treatment and rehabilitation, it’s preventive measures and pre-hospital care during the ‘golden hour’ after a head injury case, that actually differentiate in decreasing the deaths due to head injury every year. A lot more can be done with a robust law, so we work to bring effective laws and ensure their strict enforcement.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY IHIF
Awareness and Prevention Programs:
The Indian Head Injury Foundation (IHIF) has taken up an initiative “Ride with Safety” primarily with CSR support from ICICI Lombard where we educate school going children and parents in all aspects of road safety – particularly wearing of helmets. Our experience is that almost all children and many adults are without helmets on our killer roads. IHIF has so far conducted workshops on road safety in schools of 13 states of India – covering 8,50,000 children and their parents. Till date, we have distributed over 3 Lakhs high quality children’s
helmets under different CSR projects. In addition, we have educated through workshops, nearly 85,000 children in UP and Rajasthan. IHIF possessesvast experience in educating children on the issue of Road Safety and wish to further spread this message. Our CSR supported initiative won many awards for its effectiveness and uniqueness. IHIF received
British Medical Journal (BMJ) Award 2017 in the category of “Non Communicable Diseases” and “Prince Michael International Road Safety Award 2020” for its Children Right to Safety on roads Programme.
Post Hospital Care:
A large number of survivors of road and other accidents sustain varying degrees of
debilitating damage and require long-term rehabilitation treatment. Approximately 200000 new cases seeking rehabilitation get added every year to the existing number of over 5 million who have suffered traumatic injuries. However, rehabilitation for them is virtually non- existent in most parts of India, and where available, is highly expensive. In several cases, victims of traumatic injuries have to relearn to walk, talk and formulate thought. Even mild head injuries lead to symptoms like decreased memory, insomnia, inability to focus, anxiety, mood swings, etc. As rehabilitation is a neglected area in India, it is important to create attention of individuals towards this shortcoming and make them aware about importance in bringing back victims of Head and Spinal injuries to lead a near normal life. At present IHIF is running four Charitable Rehab Centres in Delhi, Jodhpur, Patna and Noida
with a significant number of patients with Head and Spinal injuries, stroke, CP, etc. We have opened our fourth Rehab Centre in Noida. Our aim is to cater to these economically weaker patients, who cannot afford expensive treatment. Our Centres have some of the top of the line & expensive Neuro Rehab Equipment like Hand Arm Therapy System
(Pablo), Functional Electrical Stimulator (FES), Combined Multi-frequency Ultrasound & Universal Electrotherapy, 2 Channel Stimulation with EMG, Photon Laser IV, Opto GAIT Analyzer, Rifton Walker, Static and Dynamic Balance System, Automated Parallel Bars with Harness. These help us to provide top of the line care to the weaker sections of society and the facilities at our centre are much sought after. About 40,000 supervised sessions were conducted at these Centres in the last calendar year.
Assistive Devices:
Another very important part of rehabilitation of paraplegic/quadriplegic patients is mobilization. This is possible only with wheelchairs and other assistive devices. With the help of proper wheelchair training the physically challenged can move about and do their activities independently or with minor support. IHIF with CSR support has been donating these wheelchairs to the needy as per requirement. Over 1000 wheelchairs, 150 tricycles and about 500 other adaptive devices like crutches, callipers etc., were donated in the last six year.
Primary Trauma Care (PTC):
IHIF in partnership with Apollo Hospitals and Trauma Care India regularly conducts certified Primary Trauma Care Courses for various categories of citizens ranging from Doctors (2 days), First Responders (1 day) and Trainers (3 days). This goes a long way in Trauma Victims being safely evacuated in the Golden Hour to hospitals and trauma centres from our killer roads, etc. In addition, we conduct Disaster Management Courses for various organisations like the Coast Guards, Police Personnel, Hotel Staff, Fire Brigade and Home Guards on an as required basis. So far, IHIF has trained 50,000 people in PTC.
Campaign for Hygiene Kits for PWDs:
IHIF provides basic hygiene items to underprivileged PWDs with the support of CSR
donations and other funds. Many of them especially quadriplegics and paraplegics, need a Caregiver to help them for even a simple change of position (while sitting on a chair or on a bed) or else they could develop bed sores, etc. These hygiene items contain glove boxes, male catheters, uro-bags, cotton rolls, micro pore dressings, bandage tape, etc. Like we all need food, water and air as basic necessities of life, many PwDs essentially require these items for their daily existence to prevent UTI, fever and skin infections.