Mangalore: MCC Drive Reinforces Need for Psychiatric Ward in Wenlock Hospital

Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Jul 26: In an initiative taken by the Mangalore City Corporation, a drive will be conducted by a team led by deputy Mayor Amithakala once every month to rehabilitate mentally ill persons who take shelter on the city streets. After they are moved from the streets, they will be given shelter in the night shelter cells functioning in Samudaya Bhavan in Urwa, in Balambhat Hall near Sharavu Temple, and exclusive shelter home for women in Suratkal.
 
However, currently the shelter in Urwa which has a capacity to accommodate 25 people, and the night shelter in Sharavu temple which is capable of accommodating 20, are both full.

In its first drive, nodal officer of the night shelters and sanitation scheme for urban shelter-less under Suvarna Karnataka programme had to face dire difficulty in providing shelter for a woman destitute who was moved from Urwa Market area (where she had taken a shelter for 15 days and was eating food given by the locals) on Wednesday July 25. When the nodal officer Chittaranjan contacted CWC chairman Asha Nayak she recommended Prajna Counseling Centre. However, she could not be moved there as Prajna does not admit mentally ill destitutes.

The woman was then moved to Seon Ashram in Kakkinje near Beltangady where she will be given treatment and shelter for about 15 days.
 
What causes one to raise eyebrows is that the Wenlock District Government Hospital does not have a psychiatry cell at a time when the MCC has initiated this bold step to rehabilitate the mentally ill destitutes on the streets.
 
When contacted, Dr Saroja, district medical officer (DMO), told Daijiworld that though there is no separate cell for psychiatry treatment, two temporary rooms have been arranged wherein a senior retired psychiatrist has been appointed.

“However, a separate cell is the need of the hour,” she asserted. Dr Saroja also added that when minister Ramadas had visited Wenlock Hospital, in response to a plea, he had assured that a separate psychiatry cell would be set up. She regretted that no action has been taken place in this regard.
 
She said that merely a psychiatry cell in the hospital will not serve any purpose, but a good number of staff will also have to be appointed.
 
MCC’s initiative has further underlined the immediate need for a psychiatry ward in the district government hospital.