Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 21: Comfort and relief can be provided to the end of life situations of terminally ill patients by using Body Tambura, an Indian instrument improvised in Germany, demonstrated Dr Cordula Dietrich, music therapist and psychiatrist from Germany.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr Vjay Kumar, vice chancellor, Yenepoya deemed to be university, pro chancellor Dr Raghuveer, principal Dr Moosabba, Dr Lavina, Dr Anil Kakunje, Dr Kishore Ubrangala, and organiser Dr Prabha Adhikari.

"Dr Cordula has created a landmark by introducing Body Tambura in end of life situations by moving into music therapy from being a psychiatrist,” explained Jerardin D'Souza, founder- MAA Mangalore Alzheimers Association, who had undertaken the first palliative care course where Dr Cordula taught.

She demonstrated the effect of Body Tambura on the post graduate medical students by placing it on their body and playing. It had mesmerising experiences for each student. So they realized how they can help terminally ill patients using Body Tambura.

Dr Cordula conducted the workshop to the batch of palliative care course doctors. Even senior doctors Dr Sydney Pinto, Dr Anurag Bhargav, and Dr Anil Kakunje participated in the innovative alternative treatment for end of life situations.

Dr Lavina Noronha, director of AVE Maria Palliative Care Hospice, Vamnjoor, gave a talk on end of life situations.

DrJochen Becker, director, First Ever Palliative Care Course in Geriatrics in India, had taught this batch. He introduced Dr Cordula Dietrich to Mangaluru in 2015.