Kundapura: Palliative care project set for rollout in June

Kundapura: The palliative care initiative that found success across Kerala—starting from Venganoor village—is now set to be launched in Karnataka. Preparations are underway to implement this initiative in seven gram panchayats of Kundapura taluk in Udupi district, with the project expected to begin by June.

This community-based care model aims to provide medical support at the doorstep for patients suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. It will focus on cancer patients, endosulfan victims, individuals undergoing dialysis, those who have lost limbs to diabetes, bedridden persons, individuals with mental illnesses, and elderly people living alone.

How the services will be provided:

• In the first phase, ASHA workers and health staff have conducted a survey across the seven villages and identified 322 individuals in need of such care.
• A follow-up survey will be carried out. Medical teams consisting of doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, psychologists, attendants, and one volunteer per team will then be formed.
• In addition to home visits, a fully equipped care centre is planned on 1.5 acres of land in Vandse at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The facility will offer a range of treatments under a two-year plan.

Villages under the scheme:

The project will cover Vandse, Aluru, Chitturu, Iduru-Kunjadi, Keradi, Hakladi, and Hemmadi villages in Kundapura taluk. A new society named Niramaya has been formed to implement the initiative. It will operate in collaboration with the state government, Zilla Panchayat, Health Department, and Panchayat Raj Department.

Each gram panchayat will be represented by one member on the Niramaya society board for a period of 10 years. The president, vice president, and PDO of the respective panchayats will also be part of the team. Senior district officials such as the ZP CEO, District Health Officer, Taluk Panchayat EO, and Taluk Health Officer will serve as mentors. Local doctors and donors will act as honorary members.

Funding and support:

• The estimated annual cost of the programme is Rs 50 lakh. The government has already released Rs 7 lakh.
• Health cess collected by the panchayats may also be utilised. Additional funding will be sourced from the ZP, TP, and local donors.
• This is a public-private partnership initiative. Philanthropist Krishnamurthy Manjaru from Maranakatte has already donated an ambulance.
• Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), Bengaluru, is providing technical support. Manipal’s KMC has also partnered with the project. NGOs like Namma Bhoomi, Aasare, Arivu, and Rotary have joined hands in support.

First-of-its-kind in the state:

“This is the first initiative in Karnataka where mental health care, elderly care, and home-based medical services for the chronically ill are being taken directly to the patients. If successful, this model can be expanded across the state,” said Prateek Bayal, CEO, Udupi Zilla Panchayat.

Scheduled to launch in June:

“Three rounds of meetings have been conducted. A 15-member team visited Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram and studied the Palliative India model. All preparations are in place to launch the project by June. Many donors have also come forward,” said Uday Kumar Shetty Vandse, President, Niramaya Society.

– Reported by Prashanth Pade