Mobile treatment units, a long-pending need of bedridden endosulfan victims, are set to function in Dakshina Kannada from March 1. The victims can also avail of physiotherapy service at the five physiotherapy centres to be opened in the government hospitals in the district.
Setting up of mobile treatment centres was among the several facilities that the State government had promised to endosulfan victims. A statement was also made before the High Court of Karnataka. The State had released Rs. 50 lakh towards mobile treatment units that will serve the 193 bedridden victims. These centres were supposed to start functioning from last year.
Arun Kumar S.B., District Nodal Officer for care of endosulfan victims, told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the mobile units will be based in Belthangady, Puttur, Bellare and Moodbidri. Each mobile unit will have a physiotherapist, a nurse and an health assistant.
Dr. Kumar said that a schedule has been drawn in such a way that each one of the 193 bedridden victim will be checked once every fortnight. Apart from general check-up and nursing assistance, these victims would undergo physiotherapy exercise session if required. Parents or other family members will also be trained in physiotherapy exercises. A non-government organisation will manage the four units and the State will bear the cost: ₹ 3.5 lakh per month.
New physiotherapy centres will come up in the taluk hospitals in Belthangady, Sullia and Puttur and in the Community Health Centres in Vitla and Moodbidri. A physiotherapist, a nurse and an health assistant will be available at each one of these centres that has equipment worth ₹ 4 lakh. Apart from meeting the needs of endosulfan victims, these centres will serve the post-operative needs of patients. The State will incur the cost that will run into ₹ 2.3 lakh per month.
In a district-level meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha, it was decided to inaugurate the physiotherapy centres on February 20, while the mobile units will start operations on March 1.
