Zavarovalnica Triglav dd : New equipment promises a better tomorrow for children with special needs

Every day the more than 140 children and young people with special needs who attend the Cirius Education, Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Vipava prove that the only barriers that exist are the ones in our minds. Despite difference and despite the difficulties they face, they involve themselves with great pleasure and gusto in the wide range of activities on offer at Cirius. Keen to ensure that early approaches to children and young people with special needs improve in quality all the time, along with the treatments that prevent complications later in life, Zavarovalnica Triglav's regional office in Nova Gorica has decided to support the project as part of 'For A Better Tomorrow', the company's New Year campaign.

Cirius Vipava takes an integrated and comprehensive approach to children and young people, from pre-schoolers to young people up to the age of 26, and involves professionals from a wide range of fields. Every pupil is given therapy and healthcare, alongside schooling and education, according to their needs. The children and young people are involved in speech and language, physiotherapy and occupational therapy activities, as well as other types of therapy, all provided by qualified speech and language specialists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The centre also offers numerous other activities, from swimming, dancing and equine-assisted therapy to climbing, skiing and music. It is also justly proud of the many projects that build friendships with pupils at various primary schools.

'Before their child arrives, expectant parents are full of hope and plans for the future. They look forward to the birth of a healthy baby. However, some parents, mostly after their child is born, are faced with that moment when they are made to question all the expectations they had - when they realise their child has different needs. Early and comprehensive intervention means that we can have an important effect on the child's further development and, at the same time, provide families with help,' says Kristina Bratina, head of Cirius, as she describes the role the Vipava-based centre plays. 'We provide children and parents with a range of services that help them foster children's personal development, strengthen the family's capacity to deal with problems, and encourage social inclusion.'

Importance of taking a holistic approach to children

Teaching, healthcare and rehabilitation equipment complements our institution's basic equipment in an important way, and provides a high-quality, tailor-made environment for children and young people with special needs. They are also aware of this at Zavarovalnica Triglav, which will have supported more than 20 prevention projects around the country by the end of the year. Triglav's contribution to the purchase of urgently required equipment that will improve the quality and safety of education, therapy and healthcare programmes is just one of the projects forming part of the 'For A Better Tomorrow' New Year prevention campaign. The campaign is part of the company's mission to help raise awareness of and reduce danger and potential accidents.

Triglav was keen to assist the Cirius Education, Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Vipava in providing the best possible care for children and ensuring that they reach personal milestones across the board. 'With the help of dedicated staff, the children and young people who attend Cirius show, through their courage, optimism and persistence, that it is difference that enriches our society. At the same time, they remind us how important and precious health is,' said Ivica Vulić, director of the Nova Gorica Regional Office of Slovenia's largest insurer.

Fourth year of the 'For a Better Tomorrow' campaign

The 'For A Better Tomorrow' New Year prevention campaign is already in its fourth year. Over the last three years, Zavarovalnica Triglav have supported more than 70 prevention projects throughout the country, with a further 20 or so receiving support this year. In recent years, the company have helped numerous firefighting associations around Slovenia, co-financed the purchase of defibrillators, an ultrasound machine and an ECG machine, and supported a large number of other projects in the fields of healthcare, civil protection, flood and road safety, and child development and safety.

As part of last year's 'For A Better Tomorrow' New Year prevention campaign, Triglav's regional office in Nova Gorica provided the Tolmin unit of the Mountain Rescue Service of Slovenia with funds to purchase rescue and medical equipment. In recent years, it has also helped the Dr Franc Derganc General Hospital to fit out the unit in which it runs its DORA screening programme, and the gynaecology department of Šempeter Maternity Hospital with funds for the purchase of an ECG monitor with an oximeter.