Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VA)
Udupi, Sep 25: Dr A V Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddangudde, here in association with Integrated Tribal Development Association, Udupi (ITDP) and Integrated Rural Development Association conducted the fourth alcohol de-addiction camp especially for the Koraga community from September 15 to 24.
Rajashekhar, CEO, Udupi Zilla Panchayat inaugurated the camp. Dr Ramachandra Bairy, district surgeon, Urmila, project co-ordinator, ITDP and Sushila Nada, president, Koraga Development Association, Karnataka and Kerala, Dr R V Baliga, trustee, Dr A V Baliga Charities, Mumbai were the chief guests. U R Acharya, managing trustee of Dr A V Baliga Charities, Mumbai presided.
As many as 25 people attended the camp. Five of them were women. Almost all participants were from the Udupi district. Social Workers from Koraga community themselves took the initiative and had the camp considering the fact that alcoholism is rampant in the community. It is culturally acceptable for even children and women to consume alcohol regularly. Most of the participants of the camp started consuming alcohol by the age of 14-15.
Detailed medical and psychiatric evaluation of all the camp inmates was performed. Six of them were found to be suffering from anemia, three from oral fibrosis, two from depression and two from other major psychiatric disorders. All were subsequently referred for further treatment.
Daily rounds were conducted by psychiatrists in addition to one-on-one counseling of every inmate performed by trained counselors and social workers. Apart from this, daily talks were conducted informing the inmates about alcohol, its hazardous effects and the path to recovery. Members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) conducted meetings for all inmates regularly. Various cultural and entertainment programmes were conducted by nursing students.
The valedictory function was held on Friday September 24 at 3.00 pm. It was presided over by Dr P V Bhandary, director, Dr A V Baliga Group of Institutions, Udupi. Urmila, project co-ordinator, ITDP, Udupi and Harish, president, Taluk Koraga Samiti, Udupi were the chief guests.
The alcohols abstinent for more than one year were honoured by the president on the occasion. All representatives from the Integrated Tribal Development Association expressed great satisfaction and hoped that more such camps would be conducted in the future considering the widespread usage of alcohol among the Koragas.
As most of the inmates hail from the Udupi district, all the inmates would be offered follow-up at the psychiatry department of Dr A V Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddanagudde, Udupi to keep a track of their progress on abstinence from alcohol.