Kozhikode, Kerala. The Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Kozhikode (CRC-K) and the Lions Club have launched a month-long orthotic assessment and device-fitment initiative to mark International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day (IPOD) 2026. The programme began on 5 November and aims to reach more than 200 persons with disabilities during November.
More than 50 people were assessed for orthotic devices on the opening day alone. Assessments and fittings will continue through the month, focusing on people who need orthoses to improve posture, stability, mobility and independence in daily life.
CRC-K orthotic drive built on individual assessment
The initiative puts individual assessment and need-based prescription first. Each beneficiary’s clinical presentation, functional limitations and rehabilitation goals are reviewed before a device is chosen. The organisers stress that an orthosis is only as effective as the assessment, prescription, fitting, user education and follow-up behind it.
Mr. Akshay Kumar, Head of Prosthetics and Orthotics at CRC-K, told the inaugural gathering that orthoses are planned clinical interventions, not simply external supports. Correctly prescribed, they can improve alignment, stability, posture, mobility and function in line with each person’s condition and goals. He also pointed to the psychosocial side of orthotic care: a well-fitted device helps people carry out daily activities with more confidence and independence. He used the occasion to raise awareness of the role of prosthetists and orthotists, and of the correct use and care of P&O devices.
Access for disadvantaged persons with disabilities
Dr. Roshan Bijlee K.N., Director of CRC-K, said rehabilitation goes beyond handing over a device. Its purpose is to help people overcome functional barriers, take part in mainstream society and live more independently. He stressed that persons with disabilities from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds should not miss out on essential rehabilitation because of cost or other barriers, and reaffirmed CRC-K’s commitment to working with partner organisations and civil society to widen access.
Mr. M.K. Saseendran, Lions Chief Coordinator, called on civil society groups, community organisations and individuals to help build a society where persons with disabilities participate with dignity. Inclusion, he said, cannot be achieved by institutions alone and needs sustained community action.
An ecosystem for assistive technology
Dr. Ashraf T.P., President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kozhikode and a paediatrician, welcomed the programme’s link to this year’s IPOD theme, “People”. He said assistive technology succeeds only within a supportive ecosystem of healthcare professionals, rehabilitation institutions, civil society, service providers and persons with disabilities themselves, with coordinated systems that ensure timely access to devices and continuing support.
Shri Surej P.S., Lions District Vice Governor, urged year-round, “365-day” service that reaches more people without compromising quality. Mr. Murali Krishnan, Senior Administrative Officer, added that such programmes should become more frequent and sustained rather than one-off events, with institutional continuity to reach a larger share of the population.
Bharat CPO Perspective
India’s Composite Regional Centres were created to take specialist rehabilitation beyond the national institutes, and this initiative shows that model at work. A month-long programme, rather than a single camp day, gives clinicians time to assess, fit and follow up properly, which is where orthotic outcomes are won or lost.
The partnership with the Lions Club also points to a practical route for scaling services: a government rehabilitation centre providing clinical expertise, with a civil society partner mobilising beneficiaries and community support. It follows CRC-K’s recent joint assessment of 54 people with Nirmala Hospital and Omega Rehab, and builds on Kerala’s strength in linking rehabilitation institutions with community-based care. The calls from speakers for year-round, follow-up-led services are the right test for what comes after IPOD month.
Programme details
- Organisers: CRC-K, Kozhikode, with the Lions Club
- Occasion: International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day 2026 (theme: People)
- Dates: From 5 November, continuing through November 2026
- Services: Orthotic assessment, prescription and device fitment
- Reach: 50+ people assessed on day one; target of 200+ beneficiaries in November
By Bharat CPO Editorial Team