Dr. Zafar Mahmood Meenai

FRCPCH (UK), M.Sc. in Paediatric Neurodisability (Hallam University, Sheffield,UK), DCHRCP&S, Ireland.
Director, UMMEID Child Development Centers, Bhopal, India.

Global Lead Expert, World Health Services Mission Disability Reduction  & Inclusion, UK.

Email : drzafarah@gmail.com

Summary:

I am a Consultant Developmental Paediatrician with 23 years of experience at a senior level. Working in Developmental Paediatrics, I coordinate a team of Speech Therapist, Physiotherapists, Psychologist, Special Educators, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatrists, Paediatric Neurologists, Geneticists, and Rehab Nutritionists. I am dedicated to the Mission of Disability Reduction by creating awareness for early detection, early intervention, Inclusion and improving compliance of children with special needs in the critical brain growth period for the attainment of maximum potential. I was part of the nationalexpert team to formulate National guidelines on Autism, ADHD, High-risk new born follow-up, Global developmental delay, Newborn hearing screening, Poor scholastic performance, and formulating a multidisciplinary program for Cerebral palsy and Intellectual disability. Iwas National Scientific Convener for IAP President Action Plan 2023 TOT on High Risk Neonate Risk stratification, Assessment , Clinical monitoring, Early Stimulation & Intervention(RACE). I was National Convener National Autism Workshop PEDICON 2024. I believe in the concept of Labelling to Enabling, Functional Integration, Early Intervention & Family Empowerment.

Education:

• • FRCPCH (UK) 2023
    
  • MSc. Pediatric Neuro disability, 2021 Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
  • Diploma in Pediatric Neuro disability, 2017, Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
  • Diploma in Developmental Neurology, 2008, University of Kerela. India
  • DCH,Sept 1999, RCP&S Ireland
  • M.B.B.S., March 1994, Govt. Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, India

Current Appointments:

• • Honorary Secretary General South Asia Neuro Developmental Behavioral Environmental Pediatric Association (SANBEPA) www.sanbepa.org
  • Chairperson Elect 2025 IAP Neuro Development Pediatric Chapter www.iapndp.org office bearers
  • Expert lead WHIS mission disability reduction & inclusion.  www.whis.world
  • Director, UMMEID Child Development Centers, Bhopal, India, 26th January2005 till date.
  • Editor in Chief Indian Journal of Developmental and Behavior Pediatrics. www.ijdbp.in
  • International Advocacy group member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine 2019-2024
  • National Coordinator India, of Common wealth Association for Health and Disability (COMHAD International) 2023-25
  • Lead Author Consensus Guidelines of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP)—Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Chapter on Developmentally Supportive Follow-Up for High-Risk Infants Visit Guideline - https://rdcu.be/eqq7H
  • Lead member expert review committee of revised Autism and Neuro Developmental Disorders guidelines 2025.

Previous Appointments:

• • National Vice Chairperson Neurodevelopmental Pediatric chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics 2024
  • National Joint Secretary Neuro developmental Paediatrics chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics 2019-23
  • National scientific convener & lead faculty of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) President action plan 2023 RACE Module (Risk stratification, Assessment, Clinical monitoring, Early intervention in a High-Risk neonate).
  • National convenor in PEDICON 2022, Noida. National Workshop Diagnosis and management of "Autism, what a Paediatrician should know?"
  • National Master Trainer and central zone convener for Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) President action plan on All About Autism & Poor Scholastic Performance-1. 2020-21
  • National Master Trainer and central zone convener for Indian Academy of Paediatrics President action plan on All About Autism and Poor Scholastic Performance-2. 2022-23.
  • National Master Trainer and central zone convener for Indian Academy of Paediatrics President actionplan on Nurturing care- Early child development 2022-23
  • National MasterTrainer and central zoneconvener for President action plan on National guidelines on Neurodevelopmental disorder 2018-21
  • Advisor and Chair International Affairs Committee member and fellow of the AmericanAcademyof Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (FACPDM) from2013 to 2018
  • National Joint Secretary Growth Development Behavior chapter of IAP Jan 2011-2013

Author :

• One chapter on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for Partha’s IAP Textbook of Pediatrics 2025
• One chapter on high-risk newborn early Detection and early intervention in the IAP Purple book, Practical Guidelines, 2023
• One chapter on Early intervention in the IAP Handbook of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics, 2022.
• Two Chapters in the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) text book on "Parenting”
• One Chapter in the IAP textbook on Child & Adolescent Behavior Problems"

Professional Work Experience in Developmental Paediatrics:

• • Went for advanced training at the Government Child Development Center, Medical college campus Thiruvananthapuram under Dr. M.K.C. Nair from 2nd April2004 to 5thMay2005
  • Established 1st child development center in Central India at Suretech Hospital and Research Center, Nagpur, and worked as a developmental Paediatrician from 6th May 2004to 15th November2004
  • Developmental Paediatrician, Established and coordinator of Child Development Cell, People’s College of Medical Sciences & Research Center, Bhanpur, Bhopal (MP) India from 15/11/2004 till 15/09/2015
  • Director UMMEID Group of Child Development Centers, Bhopal (MP) India 26/01/2005 till date.
  • Head and coordinator UMMEID MAX Child Development Center MAX Care Children Hospital Bhopal from 16 September 2015 till 29 December 2022.
  • Established Child development centers at Ayushman hospital Jabalpur, Nelson Hospital Nagpur & Apollo hospital Bilaspur creating awareness in central India.
  • National Expert member & Master trainer for Preparing & Executing of Module on Early Intervention for high-risk Neonates & Autism for the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP)President Action Plan2012
  • Master TOT for Emotional quotient workshop IAP president action plan 2014
  • National Co-Convenor IAP president action plan 2016-18 workshop Cradle to Crayon-Development for all
  • National Expert member for the formulation of IAP National Guidelines for NDD ( Autism, ADHD, Hearing screening) 2017

Research Articles:

• • A Study on prevalence and antecedents of developmental delay children less than 2years attending well baby clinic. People’s Journal of Scientific Research vol.2(I), Jan2009
  • Establishing comprehensive child development cell in a medical college for disability reduction in Indian Scenario IJGDBPVol.7:2011 pg-27-30.
  • An unusual cause of school refusal BMJ Case Reports 2011; doi:10.1136/bcr.10.2011.4902
  • Audit on 1yr NICU Graduate follow up at Peoples Child Development Center, free paper 10th NCDC Bhopal.

Academic Events organized  

• National Scientific Convener High Risk New born follow up (RACE IAP Module) conducted 14 workshops pan india 2023-24.
• Organizing secretary of the 18th Annual Conference of the IAP Chapter of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics. ENCDP-2021, 15th to17th December 2021

• Organizing and central zone convener of Neuro developmental disorders IAP Action plan 2018-19 at Bhopal on 24/06/2018

• Convener and Master trainer National TOT workshop PRESIDENT ACTIONPLAN 2016 Bhopal on 23rd October 2016 “Cradle to Crayon”

• Organizing secretary, 10th National childhood disability conference of childhood disability group of IAP on 1st & 2nd November 2014 at Bhopal

• Organizing secretary 1st Central zone Multidisciplinary pediatric update at NTTTI Auditorium Bhopal 21 December 2007

• Joint organizing secretary, 9th National Conference of Growth Development and Behavioral chapter of IAP, GDBP NATCON 2010, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana 30-31October2010.

• Central zone convenor & master trainer IAP National workshop on Autism & Growth at Bhopal 1st April 2012

 

International Faculty 

 

• Guest Faculty First SANBEPA Congress Kathmandu (NEPAL) 20-21 December 2024 (Installation as HSG SANBEPA 2025-26)
• Guest faculty South Asia Pediatric Association Congress 11-13th June 2024, Colombo, Srilanka (Autism South Asian Perspective).
• Guest faculty 30th International Pediatric Association World Congress 22nd February 2023, Ahmedabad

• Convener International symposium of COMHAD International on 30th April 2023, Demystifying Autism

• Guest Faculty, “International Conference of Commonwealth Association of Health and Disability, 8-9 December 2018, Bangalore” Inclusion or Integration- the better option for children with special needs

• Guest Speaker, 29th Feb.2008 Dhaka, Bangladesh, “Role of early intervention in Handicap prevention.”

• 1st SAARC summit of SASONS 9th October 2009 at Dhaka, Bangladesh, ELECTED INTERNATIONAL SECRETORY SASONS. “Establishing Early Intervention Services South Asian Perspective.”

• GuestSpeaker,“EstablishingEarlyInterventionServicesforNepal”Seventh Conference of Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESCON-7) Kathmandu 11-12 December 2009

 

National Guest Faculty  

 

• Guest faculty National Level Conference on Autism womb to cradle 25 & 26 April 2025 at Apollo Multi Specialty Hospital Kolkata West Bengal.
• Guest faculty 61st PEDICON, 26th January, 2024, Kochi, Debate medical investigation in Autism.

• Moderator 18th November 2023 UPPEDICON High-risk neonate developmentally supportive care.

• Moderator 7th October 2023 National conference of Neurodevelopmental Pediatric Chapter of IAP, NCDP 23, Approach to High-risk neonate developmentally supportive care.

• Guest faculty 60th PEDICON & IPA Congress 19 -23 February 2023, Ahmedabad. Guest faculty 11th November 2022 Vidisha MPPEDICON “Common Neuro developmental disorders what every Paediatrician ought to know”

• Guest Faculty 19th National conference of IAP Chapter of Developmental Paediatrics NCDP 2022, Friday 2nd September 2022, Kolkata “Understanding Multidisciplinary intervention”.

• Guest faculty 59th PEDICON 2022 Noida, 23 March “Tracking the triumvirate of slow learners and developmental delay”.

• Faculty 18th National Conference of IAP Chapter of Developmental Paediatrics E-NCDP2021 17th December 2021.

• Faculty 57th PEDICON Indore January 2019.“Recent advances in neuro developmental Paediatrics”.

• Faculty 16th National Conference of Developmental Paediatrics NCDP Pune 1st August2019 “Soft early signs of CP”.

• Faculty World Autism Awareness Week IAP Chandigarh 2nd & 3rd April 2019. “AUTISM-Evidence based approach”

• Faculty 56th Pedicon Mumbai 7-10 February 2019. “Isolated motor delay early identification and intervention”.

• Faculty 4th PATSCONAND15THNCDP2018 Hyderabad 28-30 September.

• Faculty RCI status Accredited-Disability rights and status in India-policy and program for PWD Bhopal, 30 March-2018

• Faculty 70th annual national conference of Indian Psychiatric Association ANCIPS 2018, 5-8 February, Ranchi “Our experience of Autism central India in resource crunched setting byE-INTERVENTION”.

• Faculty 55th National Conference of IAP Early Detection and Intervention in high-risk neonate, 2-5 January 2018.

• Faculty 48th MP PEDINEOCON 2017 Autism – Early Detection, 11th November 2017 Jabalpur

• Faculty GDBPCON16,“Motor Delay early detection”10-11 December 2016 Pune

• Faculty NCDP2016, EMBICON2016 “Issues in adolescent CP” 1-2 October 2016 Mumbai

• Faculty 47MPPEDICON2016“ADHD-Recent advances” 24-25 September 2016 Indore

• Faculty 15th Asia Pacific Paediatrics & 53rd National conference Indian Academy of Paediatrics PEDICON Hyderabad 21-24 January 2016 “Myths in Autism”.

• Faculty International conference of COMHAD Common wealth health and disability 5-6 December 2015 Nagpur-Approaches in early intervention.

• Faculty 11th National conference NCDC of Indian Academy of Paediatrics Childhood Disability group18-20 September 2015, Madurai, ON EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM.

• Faculty annual conference of Indian Academy of Paediatrics childhood disability group DELHI “MOTOR DELAYAND EARLY INTERVENTION”18 October 2015

• Faculty 52nd National Conference Indian Academy of Paediatrics PEDICON Delhi 2015 Multidisciplinary approach in Early intervention.

• Faculty 10th National Conference NCDC OF IAPCDG 1-2 November 2014, Bhopal, MP, soft signs in Autism.

• Faculty 13th GDBPCON of IAPGDBP Chapter 5-7 December 2014, Mumbai on early intervention high-risk neonate.

• Faculty 51st National conference Indian academy of Paediatrics (IAP)PEDICON, Indore on Meet the Expert & “Autism” Jan 2014

• Faculty at 12th GDBPCON of IAP GDBP Chapter on “behavioral problems in children7/12/2013 at Kolkata

• Faculty at Mental Health Week PCMS Bhopal “Autism in DSMV” On 5 October 2013 at Bhopal.

• Faculty National conference of Disability group of Indian Academy of Paediatrics at Kochi on “Soft signs in Autism” 27 September 2013

• Faculty 50th National conference Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP)PEDICON, Kolkata on “Autism” Jan 2013

• Faculty National conf. of Disability chapter of IAP, at Nagpur “Early intervention” OCT-2012

• Faculty National conf. of Growth Behavior Development chapter IAP. Shirdi 1 DEC 2012

• Faculty 49th National conference Indian Academy of Paediatrics(IAP) Gurgaon on “Behavior problems in Paaediatrics” 20 Jan 2012

• Faculty Chhattisgarh state conf. of IAP “HIGH RISK NEONATE-ROAD TO MAXIMUM POTENTIAL” Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.18 NOV-2011

• Faculty National conf. of Disability chapter of IAP, at Chandigarh “Newer concept in the management of Cerebral Palsy”3rd Sep-2011

• Faculty 48th National conference Indian Academy of Paediatrics PEDICON Jaipur 23rd JAN 2011“Early identification Motor delay”

• Faculty GDBPNATC ON 2010 Ludhiana 30 Oct 2010“Management of ADHD”

• Faculty National Seminar 28/8/2010 Hoshangabad “Planning early intervention services for district Hoshangabad”

• Guest faculty Rehabilitation Council of India orientation program for Paediatricians on early intervention 25 March 2010. Jabalpur

• Faculty - 47th National Conference of Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Enuresis and Encopresis” 8th January 2010, Hyderabad.

• Panelist: Behavioral Problems in Paediatrics”9th January 2010, Hyderabad

• Faculty Indian Psychiatric Society 3rd M.P. Psycon 25 July/09, Satna. “Early Intervention in Autism”

• Chairperson 8th National Conference of IAP Chapter of GDBP Aurangabad, 3rd & 4th October 2009.

• Guest Speaker, 6th National Conference growth and development chapter Orrisa date 8th September2007, “Establishing comprehensive child development cell”.

 

Workshops Conducted as Faculty. 

 

• National Scientific convener and Lead Faculty Autism workshop 61st PEDICON 24th January, Kochi.

• National Scientific convener and faculty RACE TOT at 60th PEDICON 19 , February 2023, Ahmedabad, (12 workshops to be conducted pan India) & conducted 12 National workshops pan India as Lead Faculty as part of IAP President Action Plan 2023.

• Central zone convener, Team lead, and faculty IAP workshop on Nurturing care child development. 11th November 2022 Vidisha MPPEDICON

• Faculty NCDP2022 preconference workshop Early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders. Friday 2nd September 2022, Kolkata

• National Convener and faculty national workshop on Autism at PEDICON 22 Noida 19th March.

• Workshop as Advisor on upgrading child developmental center at Datta Meghe MEDICALUNIVERSITY Sawangi 21 January 2019

• Workshop on Neurodevelopmental disorders, 2nd September 2018, Nagpur

• Workshop NDD modules IAP Action plan at Bhopal, 24 June 2018

• Faculty for master trainer workshop at 55PEDICON,N agpur guidelines on Autism, ADHD, Learning Disability 2nd January 2018 Nagpur.

• Faculty in Workshop on Early Intervention in Neurodevelopmental Disorders on 10’11/2017 Jabalpur.

• National TOT workshop PRESIDENT ACTION PLAN 2016 Ujjain on 9th July 2017 “Cradle to Crayon”

• Convener and Master trainer National TOT workshop PRESIDENT ACTIONPLAN 2016 Bhopal on 23rd October, 2016 “Cradle to Crayon”

• National TOT workshop PRESIDENT ACTION PLAN 2016 Nagpur on 10th July 2016 “Cradle to Crayon”

• National TOT workshop PRESIDENT ACTION PLAN 2016 Indore on 17th July 2016 “CradletoCrayon”

• Workshop at CEO Zila panchayat Betul DEC 2015 for videoconferencing-based assessment and intervention for doctors and DDRC staff

• Workshop at District Disability and Rehabilitation Centre Hoshangabad on 01/12/06 on Cerebral Palsy & and autism early detection and intervention for paramedics, and Anganwadi workers.

• On 21 June – 2006. Workshop on Developmental assessment for handicap prevention andearly referral to Medical Collage for Early Intervention in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine at Urban Health Centre, for Doctors, paramedics, and Anganwadi workers.

• On 15/08/06 RatuaPHC for Govt. and private medical officer, paramedics, Anganwadi workers on early intervention in CP, Down Syndrome.

• 01/12/06 at DDRC Hoshangabad early detection early intervention for handicap prevention for Doctors, paramedics, and Anganwadi workers.

• Attended National Workshop on Strategies for Organization of Neuro-developmental Follow-up & Early Stimulation Programin India on 30/07/06, at Trivandrum.

• Expert member in the workshop for writing module on early intervention for IAP May 2009 at Mumbai.

• Expert member 2nd workshop for module writing on early intervention Aurangabad 2nd October 2009.

• Coordinator National workshop on 29 October GDBP NATCON2010 With Dr. Moira Stewart, and Dr. Nan Hill (Ireland) on Early Interventionat Christian Medical College Ludhiana.

• Workshop at 12th GDBPCON of IAP GDBP Chapter on “Autism in Children 7/12/2013 at Kolkata

• Workshop on AUTISM Awareness and Management 1st APRIL2012 Bhopal, MP.

• Behavioral pediatric workshop GDBPIAP&SPA Surat on 9th June 2013

• Workshop –Manthan strategies to formulate an action plan for children with special needs, BHOPAL 1st November 2014.

• TOT Workshop on EQPEDICON, 2014, Indore

   

Hobbies

      I am a workaholic but like to Exploring Nature

Mission

      Launched UMMEID-The Hope E-Intervention in collaboration with World Health Innovative Summit United Kingdom,(WHIS-UK) for creating awareness and improving compliance of children of special needs in the critical brain growth period for attainment of maximum potential. It focus is on resource crunched societies and on working families. This Mission is built on the solid foundation of UMMEID Child development centers in central India. UMMEID-E Intervention program is accepted and approved by Bangladesh Academy of Paediatrics for launching in entire Bangladesh with Dr. Zafar Meenai as Lead Resource Person.

Laurel

• Governor of Madhya Pradesh Shri Dr.Balram Jakhar, started my “Mission Disability Reduction” in 2007.
• Recipient Madhya Pradesh State government highest award “Maharishi Dadhichi Award”2009 for Mission Early Intervention & Disability reduction.