Media release

Mangaluru, Jul 22: A Family Adoption Programme (FAP) was flagged-off at the Centre for Basic Sciences, Bejai, KMC here on Friday, July 22 by Dr Pramod Kumar and Dr Srikala Baliga, associate deans, KMC.

Thereafter, 250 first year MBBS students of KMC and faculty members of the Department of Community Medicine proceeded to various villages in and around Kateel for the activity.

At the premises of Sri Durga Sanjeevani Manipal Hospital, Kateel, Kamala Devi Prasad Asranna, priest of the renowned Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel flagged-off the programme.

Asranna appreciated this initiative by KMC and was of the opinion that a continuous health assessment by the medical students under the supervision of faculty members would improve the health status of the community. Faculty members, postgraduates, medical-social workers of the Department of Community Medicine and first year medical students of KMC were present.

After the flag-off, each student visited the two houses allotted to them. The students will revisit the houses periodically for the next two years. Thus, the FAP provides an experiential learning opportunity for the Indian medical graduate towards community healthcare. It would also serve as a link between the community and healthcare system.