The Nitte Rural Psychiatric Centre

Danta Bhagya Yojane

A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, constituent college of Nitte DU is a pioneer in executing ‘Danta Bhagya Yojane’ of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, Government of Karnataka, in association with National Health Mission and National Oral Health Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Government of India.

Recognition from Govt. of Karnataka
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Media clippings

Unique Same Day Denture Camps

Geriatric fully edentulous patients face a big challenge as treatment facilities are not available in rural areas. Moreover, it also requires multiple visits by the patients to the dental clinic. In order to facilitate this, single day denture fit in camps are organised wherein the Specialists in the field of Prosthodontics visit these patients at their village and treat them by providing complete denture prosthesis, in a single day free of cost.

A team of Faculty, Post Graduate students, Interns, Under Graduate students, Dental Technicians and Electricians from the Department of Prosthodontics, comprising of 60 to 80 members, carry with them all the required materials & equipments and successfully conduct denture camps in rural areas, in association with the local organisations. The treatment would start in the morning by 9 a.m following all the standard protocols. Fit and insertion of complete denture Prosthesis would be done by 6 p.m.

All the treated cases will be recalled for review after 48 hours. Patients will be examined by a group of Faculty and Post Graduate students. The complete dentures are examined for retention, stability, aesthetics, signs of pain, inflammation and any other complaint by the patients. All the initial problems of the patients are addressed.

The biggest challenge is completion of treatment in a single day which requires meticulous planning and capability to render & deliver complete denture prosthesis involving multiple steps, which otherwise requires at least five appointments for completion.

Nerekere Kshema

A project for total community development of Nitte, Mukka & Sasihithlu villages by bringing the economically and socially marginalized, to the mainstream of the society, has been embarked upon by NITTE. Various schemes pertaining to health, education, housing and self-employment have been implemented to ensure a better quality of life for the people of the community around. Aptly this project is christened as Nerekere Kshema meaning well-being of neighbourhood.

Various activities taken up:

• Comprehensive primary health care
• Free /subsidized referral services at the multi-speciality K.S Hegde Hospital
• School and Educational Support
• Vocational Training and Employment
• Housing
• Drinking water Supply and Water-shed management
• Orphanages and resettlement of displaced children
• Infrastructure support to government and other schools

Medical and Dental Health Camps

Outreach Activity Report

Each year, hundreds of general health, specialty health and dental health camps are organized at various locations within Karnataka and neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Free screening, treatment and referral services are offered. Health awareness and promotional activities are also conducted through these camps.
• Many of these camps are conducted in collaboration with National/ International Professional bodies such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Dental Association (IDA), International College of Dentists’ (Section VI) and Indian Red Cross Society.
• Mobile Dental Clinics and Single Denture camps have made dental care accessible in remote
areas



Collaboration with NGOs for free vision testing and distribution of free spectacles
The Department of Ophthalmology conducted a series of ophthalmic camps as part of a community outreach program at various locations, including Sevanjali Health Centre, Farangipete on 03-01-2023; Ambedkar Bhavan, Salethur on 19-02-2023; Mallur, Neermarga on 26-02-2023; Ambla Mogaru, Munnur Grama on 27-02-2023; the Rehabilitation Centre, Olavina Halli, Uchila on 19-03-2023; Mundkur Village, Mangalore on 16-04-2023; and Adyar Garden, Padil, Mangalore on 28-05-2023. A team of doctors from the Ophthalmology Department, supported by PG students, interns, and two optometrists, assessed visual acuity and other eye conditions. Fifty-six patients with vision difficulties were referred to Justice K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital for further evaluation and examination. Free reading glasses were also distributed to those in need.

Detection and Treatment of Malnutrition

• K.S.Hegde Medical Academy in collaboration with Taluk Health Officer (Puttur) conducted malnutrition detection and treatment camps. Aside from the regular health check-up, children under the age of 18 were specifically screened for malnutrition (particularly severe or moderate acute malnutrition), nutritional deficiencies and developmental delays. Anthropometry was done for all the children and if any treatment was prescribed, drugs were distributed by the government healthcare workers. Nutritional education was given to the parents regarding dietary care for their child..
• Parents of children with delay in development of speech or behavior were sent to the psychiatrist for consultation and targeted counseling. Antenatal examination of pregnant women was also conducted. Children were screened for dental caries and malformations and health education on oral hygiene was given to such children and their parents areas

Nitte Special Child Care Centre

• NitteDU operates a program for the welfare of Special children in Dakshina Kannada District. The district has more than 800 special children with special needs and Nitte (DU) has taken up the responsibilities of providing free medical and dental care to these children.

• Awareness campaign on autism spectrum disorder.
• Awareness program on specific learning disorders.
• Screening Program for Assessment and Rehabilitation of Speech and Hearing Disorders (SPARSH) in association with Samagra Shikshana Karnataka. Government of Karnataka.
• Free continuous medical camps, dental screening and awareness camps for Special children in Dakshina Kannada district.
• Awareness campaign to support individuals with cerebral palsy.
• Dietary Counselling for Parents/Caregivers of Special Children on proper nutrition and oral health care.
• Dental screening and health checkup camp at St. Agnes Special School
• Dental screening and awareness camp at Spoorthi Special School, Moodbidri
• Support for special children through the donation of aids and appliances such as wheelchairs, airbed and roller walker aimed at enhancing their quality of life, improving care, and supporting daily activities.
• Spectacles donated by NSPECC for children with visual impairment
• Family-Based Health Insurance Scheme to support families of Special children.
• Events organized to raise financial assistance for families of Special children.
• NSPECC dental screening cards, allowing them to access free dental treatment.
• Dental awareness and assessment camp was conducted by NSPECC in collaboration with Innerwheel Club of Moodbidri and Samagra Shikshana Karnataka at Idham rehabilitation and Educational foundation for the Differently abled based in Moodbidri.
• Lifestyle diseases & oral health: a one-day workshop for the police personals of Mangalore North Zone
• A variety of competitions were organized for children with special health care needs.

Special Care Services

• Nethra Jyothi - Rural Eye Care Services
• Sahara - Free health check-up for Senior Citizens
• KSHEMA Sandhya - Geriatric Day Care Facility
• Manasadhara - Psychiatry rehabilitation center with support from Govt. of Karnataka
• N-SPECC (Nitte Special Children Care) - Free multidisciplinary health care to children with special health care
• NICAT - Nitte Integrated Care for Tribal Community
• Sanchalana - subsidized diagnostic services and joint replacement program for arthritis and sports injuries
• Sanjeevini - Blood Donor Registry
• Bone Marrow Registry in collaboration with BMC Alumni Society
• Community de-addiction camps
• Free embalming facilities

Participation in National Health Programs

Nitte Usha Maathr Kshema - Childbirth Education Centre

Karunya- a helping hand for the disabled

programmes.

Ayushman Bhava

• Detecting and treating non-communicable diseases in the general population.
• Identifying and addressing health issues in pregnant women.
• Raising awareness about organs and blood donation.
• Increasing public knowledge to improve access to services related to HIV/AIDS.

Healthcare for Endosulfan victims