Affan is 6 years old and has dyskinetic cerebral palsy. His father is a survivor of the 1984 Union Carbide Bhopal gas disaster. When Affan was born, he suffered from fits and fevers, and by the age of one, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His mother, Anam, was told that private treatment would cost half the family’s total earnings, but fortunately, they soon learned of the free specialist care available at the Chingari Trust clinic.
Since starting at Chingari four years ago, Affan has made incredible progress through a tailored program of speech therapy, physiotherapy, and special education. He has learned to chew and swallow his food, and he can now communicate his needs in simple sentences. In his physiotherapy sessions, his neck and back control have improved significantly, allowing him to sit straight and begin mastering the use of his hands. In class, he has learned his alphabet, numbers, and colours, and he especially enjoys art and drawing.
At home, Affan is very attached to his father and enjoys playing and learning with his three siblings. His favourite food is biryani, though he is also very fond of snacks and biscuits. When he isn’t at the clinic, he likes watching Shiva cartoons and the television crime series C.I.D. with his brother.
