By Ganesh Prabhu
Freelance Writer
Udupi, February 17, 2021
You should not be surprised if you see about 150 persons sitting patiently outside the Rotary Bhavan at Shankarpura, a village 15 km from Udupi. They wait for follow-up consultation and get medicines free of cost at the monthly Free Psychiatric Medical Camp being conducted by the Dr. A.V. Baliga Memorial Hospital and Rotary Club of Shankarpura.
What makes this camp special is that it is being held continuously for the last 17 years without a break. It was even held last year when there was a raging COVID-19 (Corona) pandemic.
This camp is the brainchild of the Dr. P.V. Bhandary, psychiatrist and Medical Director of Dr. A.V. Baliga Memorial Hospital, Udupi, who felt that it was often difficult for the poor patients to keep coming to the district headquarters of Udupi for repeat consultation and treatment. Some of these patients include farm workers, small jasmine growers and daily wage earners.
He sounded the idea of holding a monthly camp to Rotarian Ananthram Bhat of Rotary Club of Shankarpura, who was only too glad to arrange the camp at its premises of the Rotary Bhavan and arrange for free medicines to these poor patients.
“It is difficult for a poor patient and his care-giver to change two buses to reach Udupi and then catch an auto-rickshaw or a city bus to reach the hospital. This camp caters to their needs,” said Dr. Shrinivasa Bhat U., Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru, who is one of the two psychiatrists, regularly participating in the camp.
Thus the monthly first camp was held at the Rotary Bhavan 17 years ago in April, 2004, and it was decided to hold the camp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month and this tradition is continuing to this day.
Since most of these patients are poor and find it difficult to purchase medicines, which mostly, have to be taken continuously for psychiatric illnesses to avoid a relapse, the Rotary Club of Shankarpura pitched in to provide them with the help of philanthropists residing locally and abroad.
“A relapse has to be avoided and proper continuing care should be provided to people with mental illness. When patients take medicines regularly as prescribed to them and do not stop it in between, there is no chance of a relapse,” said Dr. Bhat.
“Nearly 70% of patients have to take medicine throughout their lives. Hence it is essential to ensure that there is no break in the provision of medicine to avoid a relapse. The more the number of relapses, the more it affects the recovery of the patient. It also increases the burden on the family or care-givers of the patients,” said Dr. Bhandary.
“Philanthropists provide money for the medicine for the poor patients as it is a noble cause. The cost of the medicine provided to the patients per camp is about Rs. 30,000. Even the chemist shop-owner provides medicine at a reduced price for the camp,” said Edward Mendonca, Coordinator of the Camp and past President of Rotary Club.
The number of patients from Shankarpura and nearby villages coming to the camp has been steadily increasing over the years. The first camp held here in 2004 had attracted about 20 patients. “Now the number of patients attending our monthly camp is between 150 and 170,” said Mr. Mendonca.
Besides two psychiatrists, one psychologist, Four Medical Representative and about six volunteers participate in every camp. The local Government Primary Health Centre also provides the services of a nurse to the camp.
“The Rotary Club, the philanthropists who donate money for medicines have played a vital role in the success of this camp. The Chithasanjeevini charitable Trust – Mano mallige project provides 11,000/- worth medication to the camp ” said Dr. Bhandary.
Meanwhile, the patients, some of whom have been attending the camp, since its inception are all praise for it. Sixty-three-year-old Melba R. (name changed), who is a jasmine grower said: “The psychiatrists at the camp do regular follow-up treatment. They are rendering a yeoman service.”
Another patient, forty-seven-year-old Rashmi Bhat (name changed) said that she suffered from Bipolar Disorder. “I have been coming to this camp for the last 13 years and find excellent arrangements here. It is heartening that the Rotary Club here is working for a good cause and providing medicines to the patients free of cost,” she said.
Yet another patient 50-year-old Sudhir S. (name changed), who works as a daily wager, said that besides the treatment, he was being given good counseling for his mental illness. “The counseling has really helped me, Besides, I don’t have to spend on medicines which saves a lot of cost for me” he said.
Sometimes, some donors from Shankarpura and nearby areas sponsor the camp. The 203rd monthly camp was held at Shankarpura on February 7, 2021.
