Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 18: "Palliative Care Course will make you understand human skills and better communication not only with patients and their families but also interacting with everyone" said Jerardin D'Souza, founder MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association while addressing doctors who are undergoing Palliative Care Course at Yenepoya Medical College.

"It was providential that I met Richard Shreder, an American, director of Alzheimers facilities in Seattle, USA. My friendship with Richard inspired me to start MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association," said Jerardin.

Dr Prabha Adhikari, the mentor of MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association has been the Soul of MAA from the very beginning. She along with the medical fraternity has helped MAA reach out to the Alzheimers sufferers, he said.

"I was also the participant in the first in India Palliative Care Course in Geriatrics conducted by Dr Jochen Becker and organized by Dr Prabha Adhikari, which gave me a ringside view of the challenges a doctor faces in breaking bad news to family members as well as end stage patients", said Jerardin.

He explained the inception, activities and way forward of MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association. Training Alzheimers care givers is a focus area as it's difficult to take care without proper understanding of the affliction.

Dr Prabha Adhikari, head Internal Medicine, and organizer of the Palliative Care Course introduced Jerardin D'Souza as a rare person who being an engineer has made MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association a phenomenal organization reaching out to all sections of society.

Dr Sorjya Bannerjee, Radiology Oncologist, KMC, lectured on religion and spirituality and it's effects on end stage patients and their families.

Dr Anurag Bhargav presented mementos.

Dr Jochen Becker, director, MediAcion Germany is the course director and Dr Cordula Dietrich, music therapist and psychiatrist, Germany will conduct the Body Thambura Therapy classes as a part of the Palliative Care Course.