Jamshedpur: In a first for the state, students of School of Hope - the oldest institution here for intellectually impaired and spastic children - will receive free monthly consultation from a psychiatrist from the state-run MGM Medical College and Hospital.

The decision was taken following a free medical camp conducted by a team of paediatricians from the hospital on the occasion of World Health Day on April 7.

"We had organised a free medical camp for the specially abled children of the school to mark the World Health Day. The school authorities proposed if we could provide our psychiatric help and we have agreed to the proposal on a monthly basis, provided it does not clash with the OPD timings of the psychiatrist (Dr Deepak Giri)," said MGM Hospital superintendent Dr Bhartendu Bhushan.

"Last year a dental camp was organised by a private institution on the occasion of World Health Day and this year we are happy that one of the biggest government hospitals of the region, MGM Hospital, offered to hold a camp for the children this year. We had a discussion with the MGM doctors who conducted the health camp. There is also a growing need for the students and their parents to receive psychiatric counselling by an expert. This made us approach the MGM authorities who agreed to help," said School of Hope principal Mita Ganguly. She said though the dates are yet to be fixed, the exercise could start this month itself.

Child specialists who conducted the health camp agreed about the importance of regular psychiatric counselling.

"Apart from learning disabilities, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and few with cardiac problem, there is an imminent need for regular psychiatric counselling for these students and also their caregivers by specialists. We have held talks with Dr Deepak Giri and we can have monthly sessions for over an hour in the morning before OPD starts at 10 am," said noted child specialist Dr Mohan Kumar who also led the team of doctors during Saturday's health camp.

State disability commissioner Satish Chandra too welcomed the development.

"As per our records, this would be the first instance in the state where a government hospital will be offering psychiatric help on a regular basis to a special school and it is certainly praiseworthy,' said Chandra.

Established in 1981, the school has 127 special students (around 40 are girls) and 20 teachers, and runs between 8am and 1pm on all weekdays. The students receive regular yoga sessions besides lessons on computer, physiotherapy, speech therapy, sports and music.