Early detection and treatment of two life-long medical conditions is the latest focus of authorities in Georgia.
Tbilisi Mayor’s Office has implemented new tools for early detection of scoliosis and flatfeet in Georgia’s younger citizens, and assist parents to get adequate treatment for the conditions.
The Tbilisi Mayor’s Office noted the number of people, particularly children, suffering from scoliosis or flatfeet was "widespread”. The two conditions were generally harmless but could worsen over time if left untreated.
Each year the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office financed special testing to diagnose scoliosis or flatfeet in youth aged four to 16 years. As with other year’s, the testing was carried out once per year and was free of charge.
This year’s diagnostics revealed 13,100 of the 18,000 children who were tested suffered from one of the conditions.
If a child from a socially vulnerable family was found to have either scoliosis or flatfeet, the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office financed the cost of the patient’s treatment.
Meanwhile the Common Healthcare Program financed 70 percent of treatment costs for the other minors who were found to have either condition.
The treatment generally involved restorative therapy, such as therapeutic exercises, massage, physiotherapy and radiography.