February 9, 2015
Dr.Soman Elangovan, Senior Psychiatrist, Monash University, Malaysia, accepted our invitation to review our projects as a part of Quality assurance activities between 1st Feb 2015 and 9th Feb 2015.
ERWADI VISIT
Dava Duva project
Dava Duva project was established in the month of Nov 2013, through DMHP, first time in the history inside the dargah premises. With the help of dargah committee people, a treatment center was started. Persons with mental disabilities from neighbouring villages avail treatment after undergoing religious practices by the dargah staff. Recently the Director of Health Services, Government of Tamilnadu, through DMHP has launched 50 bedded Psychiatry hospital near the dargah and also community mental health programme was launched at Kadaladi block, Ramnad district.
Dr.Soman Elangovan observed all the above activities and interacted with the dargah committee on this partnership between faith and medicine which is the core of this project. It was observed that since the inception of treatment center, nearly 3000 Persons with Mental Disabilities (PWMD) are availing these services. It is further planned that those identified PWMD will be engaged in vocational rehabilitation activities in the near future.
Visit to DMHP project site
Dr.Soman interacted with Dr. Periyar Lenin, District Psychiatrist, DMHP, Ramnad District. The team briefed in detail about the post Erwadi progress made by the district administration and DMHP in the field of mental health and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) at Ramnad district.
Observing Disability Camp
District administration, District differently abled welfare office and DMHP jointly organized disability camp and issue of welfare benefits such as maintenance grant, issue of disability card to the persons with mental disabilities at Ramnad district periodically. 150 beneficiaries availed the welfare benefit. Dr.Soman interacted with Thiru Kanagaraj – DDAWO and visited vocational training center at Ramnad.
Community Mental Health camp – Natham
MSCTRF with support from Andhire Hilfe – Germany runs a community mental health project in two blocks – one in Madurai West and Natham.
Natham camp is regularly held once a month. Every month on an average 50 persons with mental disabilities attend the camp. Out patient clinical services for new and old mentally ill patients and intellectually disabled children are provided in this camp. Dr.Soman Elangovan reviewed the case sheets and gave his valuable suggestions.
Care givers of the beneficiaries who attend camp will regularly attend health education programme during the camp. Dr.Soman Elangovan interacted with the care givers, asked about how they are benefited through this camp, and stressed the importance of regularly attending camps for review and taking medicines regularly. Care givers also thanked Dr.Soman Elangovan for visiting them and giving them his valuable inputs. This was followed by Interaction with community mental health volunteers
Psycho social rehabilitation center
Dr.Soman Elangovan visited various psycho social rehabilitation initiatives of the Trust. Bodhi –A Psycho social residential rehabilitation center. During his visit, Dr.Soman Elangovan observed vocational training activities, particularly dairy farming, bakery and candle making units and interacted with the beneficiaries.
He visited AAKASH, a special school in which he spent quality time with our differently abled children and interacted with the special educators. He reviewed case formats and assessment procedures. This was followed by observing the effective functioning of Tele Psychiatry wing which is present inside the campus as remote consultation center and interacted with the respective staff on how the systems are handled in a more effective manner.
Later, Dr.Soman Elangovan addressed Mental Health Professionals such as social workers, psychologists and occupational therapists on current trends in Psycho social rehabilitation services across the country. Professionals were very much benefited and made aware of best practices.
|
|