As one part of the Polio Rehabilitation Project, Operation Mercy is establishing and equipping support rooms in strategic locations so families with disabled children can receive assistance.

Alisher is a six-year-old child with spastic Cerebral Palsy. He is being cared for by his grandmother and father, with some help from an aunt. His father and grandmother visited doctors hoping to get medication that would cure Alisher but as the months passed, his developmental delays became more and more obvious. His father and grandmother also turned to the neighborhood mullah (spiritual leader) for a cure, but there was no improvement in his condition. Alisher is an intelligent and active boy. He tries to move from place to place but he has problems with mobility and speech. Our speech therapist worked with Alisher and gave recommendations to his grandmother as well as a series of exercises which will benefit him. When Alisher visited the nearest support room he was very happy and excited to see the toys. These toys will help stimulate him both physically and intellectually. His grandmother has been asked to bring him twice a week to join therapeutic play sessions with other children and a nurse will teach his grandmother additional exercises they can continue at home.

"Following the 2010 polio outbreak, UNICEF, together with its partners, launched a project on Community Based Rehabilitation for Children Affected by Polio and other Children with Physical Disabilities which was implemented under the leadership of Ministry of Health and with support from Operation Mercy and Handicap International. The results of a recent assessment done of this project indicate, community based rehabilitation as a feasible model for Tajikistan to ensure the rights of children with disabilities".

Quote from: http://www.unicef.org/tajikistan/media_18798.html