Media Release
Pics: Wilson Shirva
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SB)

Udupi, Sep 6: Come first Sunday of every month, it is a ray of hope to the needy psychiatric patients at Rotary Bhavan, Shankerpura near Udupi.

Over 90 patients gather at Rotary Bhavan where a psychiatric camp is organized by the Rotary Club of Shankerpura every month for more than 78 months now.

The camp has a team of two psychiatrists, a pharmacy with two pharmacists, a nursing sister and dedicated Rotarians. All of them provide voluntary services. The medical counseling and distribution of medicines are free of cost. Medicines are distributed to the patients to last until the next month’s camp.

Patients from as far as 25 kms away from Shankerpura also attend the camps. The initiative was brain child of Dr P V Bhandary, a well known psychiatrist of Udupi. It all started when he was heading the psychiatric department at Government Hospital, Udupi.

A large number of under-privileged patients used to visit the hospital for treatment where the medicines were in short supply. At that point of time the idea of starting free medical camps struck to the doctor and the idea of starting free medical camps at Rotary Bhavan was put to shape.

The first camp was started with 20 patients and now there are over 300 registered patients, out of which are around 100 patients attend the monthly camps.

To cater to the needs of increased number of patients Dr Srinivas Bhat, a psychiatrist joined Dr Bhandary. So for 78 camps has been successfully completed. Till date Rotarians of Shankerpura have spent around Rs 5 lac on these camps, thanks to the generous contribution from Rotarians and people of good will. The Rotarians and team of doctors feel privileged to be of some help to the under-privileged of the society from whom they have received so much.

To run these camps on a continuous basis funds are required and help from individuals, businessmen, clubs, associations, philanthropist is sought, which will go a long way in benefiting the economically weaker section of the society. Donors' names will be displayed at Rotary Bhavan for a year.

Contributions may be sent to

President,
Rotary Trust (Regd),
Post-Shankerpura,
Udupi -dist,
Pin 574 115

or

Rotary Trust A/c No 3028 with Bank of Baroda,
Innanje Branch,
Shankerpura -574 115