Community health camp conducted at SWASTHA

SWASTHA -Centre for Special Education and Rehabilitation in association with Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) Madikeri organised a Community Health Camp for the specially abled in Kodagu and their Caretakers at Swastha Centre, Suntikoppa recently.

The Chief Guest of the program Dr. Vishal Kumar, Dean and Director – KIOMS, Madikeri spoke about the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka Card where the eligible beneficiaries can use this card to gain financial benefits upto Rs. 5 Lakh, at any public or private hospital in the state that comes under this initiative, and asked the specially-abled to make the best use of this benefit. He also spoke about the importance of having the Unique Disability ID Card, and said that any specially-abled person who does not have the card can take the help of VRWs in respective panchayats and visit the KIOMS Madikeri to get the card done. 

Dr. Gaurav Aiyappa, Paediatrician and Managing Partner of Ashirvadh Medical Center, Virajpet opined that the doctors play a major role in the preventing disability. He briefed about the importance of proper neonatal care during the first golden minute of childbirth and incorporating the training in curriculum for the certified professionals.

GangaChangappa, Trustee of The Coorg Foundation, spoke about the vision behind establishing Swastha.

Arathy Somaiah, Director – Swastha, spoke about Swastha’s Community Based Rehabilitation Programme which was established in 2010. The programme has been enabling the specially-abled in Kodagu to access services on their own, and the KIOMS has been successful in delivering services efficiently to a large number of people in the community. She spoke how collaborative effort of public – private partnership initiative will synergise the intervention, providing long-term positive impact to the specially-abled beneficiaries.

Dr. Shwetha (Professor and HOD, ENT), Dr. Kripalani Professor and HOD, Ophthalmology),  Dr.Harshvardha (Professor amnd HOD, Dermatology), Dr.Vinay (Orthopedic Surgeon), Dr. Salma (Paediatrician), Kavya (Refractionist), Ramesh (Psychologist) and Mohanlal (Audiologist) participated in the camp for consultation. 

 96 beneficieries participated in the camp Manjunath compered the program, 

Vanitha Chengappa (Academic Co-ordinator) welcomed the guests and Manjula delivered the vote of thanks.