Udupi: Rotary club Shankerpura to hold hundredth psychiatric camp on 1 July 2012

Media Release

Udupi, 22 Jun 2012: As the sun basks in on first Sunday of every month, it is a ray of hope to the needy psychiatric patients. Over 100 patients converge at the Rotary Bhavan, Shankerpura, for medical assistance and counselling where a free Psychiatric Camp is being held. When Rotary International was celebrating centenary in the year 2004, Rotary Shankerpura, of Zone III, RI Dist 3180, being on the forefront in community services embarked on a pilot project of conducting Free Psychiatric Camp.

 

The visionary of this pioneer project is none other than well known Psychiatrist Dr. P.V.Bhandary who was then Head of the Psychiatric Dept at Government District Hospital in Udupi.  Due to increase in number of patients and to alleviate their sufferings he wanted to start a camp in rural area and the Rotary Bhavan, Shankerpura was selected as an ideal place and location.

 

The first camp was put to shape in the month of April 2004 with 20 patients. Initially it was a smooth sailing for us. As the popularity of the camps spread to faraway places, more and more patients started pouring in for assistance. To cope with this daunting task a psychiatrist, Dr. Srinivas Bhat, joined Dr P.V Bhandary and together they are rendering their voluntary services for this worthy noble cause.  For a brief period Dr. Rohan Mendonca and Dr. Vasudev  too assisted during the camps.

 

 

The camp is being organised under the banner of Rotary Shankerpura & Rotary Trust Shankerpura, District Hospital Udupi and Public Health Centre, Mudabettu. Counselling and free medicines are given to the patients to last for a month.  The patients from as far as 25km away also attend these camps. The camps are well organised and equipped with systematic out-patients medical history reports counter, a Pharmacy with two Pharmacists, a Medical Counsellor and a Medical Assistant to monitor the blood pressure of the patients. Several Medical Representative and numerous Rotarians render their selfless service and support during the camp.

 

Like the saying, charity begins at home, during the initial camps, our Rotarians financially supported to cover medical and other expenses.  Since the cost escalated, we were bound to approach Donors. Philanthropy transcends all manmade boundaries; likewise many philanthropists have come forward to support the camps.  For the year 2012-13 one of the business man from United Arab Emirates has sponsored four camps, a Psychiatrist from USA has sponsored two camps and two well-wishers have sponsored one each.  Occasionally, small quantities of medicines are supplied by the Government Hospital. At present each camp costing the club over Rs. 15000.00. It would not have been possible to achieve this goal without the support from our Rotarians and Donors.

 

On 01 July 2012, 100th camp is being conducted. To mark this occasion, a stage function has been arranged. Rtn. PDG. Laxminarayan has consented to be the chief guest and Dr. P.V.Bhandary, Dr. Srinivas Bhat, Rev. Fr. Leslie D’ Souza and Rtn. Manohar Rao will be the guest of honour.

 

 

Since the Psychiatric patients are on the rise every month, more and more patients are likely to seek medical support and help of these camps.  Without stopping at this point and to sustain this noble cause, since the club has no other source of income, we are looking forward for more Donors in the days to come. Donor names are displayed at the entrance of the Rotary Bhavan as well displayed at the camp. By doing such Humanitarian Projects one can achieve ‘Peace through Service’.