A few like-minded volunteers, led by Mrs. Fathima Ismail got together to establish a Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre for crippled children in Mumbai. In July 1947 a humble beginning was made in paediatrician Dr. Sanzgiri’s clinic by seeking donations, and was then moved to Dr. A. V. Baliga’s nursing home. On 26th October, 1948 the Society for the Rehabilitation of Crippled Children (SRCC) was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Centre was then granted a year’s lease in Military Hutment No. 20 at Nariman Point by the Government of Bombay. The Centre offered services to all children afflicted by Poliomyelitis.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of Independent India took a keen interest in the work done by the Centre and in May 1950, assisted with the leasing of land by the Bombay Municipality at a prime location in the city. Plans were started to build an exclusive hospital for children and the Society was lucky to get the services of renowned Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. M. G. Kini, Dr. KT Dholakia and Colonel Dr. Perin K. Mullaferoze, who was awarded a Military- “Order of the British Empire” in 1947 for her medical services during the World War II. In 1953 the Society was registered as a Public Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.

The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital (COH), popularly known as the Polio Hospital in Bombay was recognised in India and internationally largely because of the dedication and expertise of Dr. Perin Mullaferoze. Dr. Mullaferoze took great pains and worked relentlessly to upgrade the hospital and provide the best facilities for the patients. Initially, she dedicated all her expertise as an orthopaedic surgeon in the treatment and prevention of poliomyelitis and congenital deformities. From 1956, the number of children with cerebral palsy at COH showed a phenomenal increase and Dr. Mullaferoze felt a proper, well-coordinated setup of professionals was the need of the hour.

In 1963 Panditji laid the Foundation stone for a better and larger hospital and the pilot project of a cerebral palsy unit got started. On 1 January 1969, a fully staffed Cerebral Palsy unit, the first of its kind in India and South-East Asia, took roots because of the vision of Dr. Mullaferoze. In a short time, it became a model institution where cerebral palsy children from India and other parts of Asia got the best care from a dedicated team under Dr. Mullaferoze’s guidance. Families came from all over India and abroad for their child’s treatment. In COH, there were paediatricians, ophthalmologists, ENT doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, visiting physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists (with special acoustic rooms and audiometry), medical social workers, special educators, orthotists, prosthetists, and visiting dermatologists. There were departments for hydrotherapy, limb plastering, surgery and dental work. Dr. Mullaferoze started counselling sessions and re-assessment sessions for monitoring the child’s progress with her whole team of therapists. She emphasized detailed documentation. She also encouraged the special educators to start remedial education therapy – the first of its kind, educational therapy department for children with learning disabilities on the hospital campus. Parents were motivated to form support groups. COH gave Hope to over a million children.

In 2006 the trustees decided to undertake a further expansion project and separate the two activities of rehabilitation and medical services.