17th November 2013

- Pavala Rajesh Kumar Jeyabalan

District Collector inaugurated Free Mental Health Camp

Today, Virudhunagar District Collector Mr.Hariharan inaugurated the 139th Free Mental Health Camp. Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithy Sivakasi in association with M.S.Chellamuthu Trust, Madurai, jointly organised the camp at Arasan Ganesan Kalyana Mandapam, Sivakasi. The camp began with formal Sri Sathya Sai bhajan and prayers. Mr.Hariharan, Collector, Virudhunagar District was the Chief Guest for the function. Mr.Sankar, Orient Group, BhagavanDhass, Convenor, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithy, Sivakasi, Dr.Rama Subramaniam, M.S.Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation were the guest of honours for the camp. Mr. & Mrs.Senthilnathan, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithy, Salem lighten the kuthuvilakku. Sairam Vinayaga Prabhu gave running commentary. Sairam Dr.Pasupathi welcomed the gathering. In his speech, Dr.C.S.Rama Subramaniam mentioned that, he met Dr.Pasupathi while traveling to Puttaparthi and discussed about free mental health camp, after getting blessing from Sri Sathya Sai Baba, they initiated the camp from 2002. On the first camp only 75 patients were treated, now it is increased to 220 patients from five districts. Mr.Hariharan, appreciated the initiative of Sathya Sai Samithy & MS Chellamuthu Trust for organising such a free mental health camp for last 11 years. Chief guest and guest of honours were honoured by the organisers.

Earlier, Dr.Pasupathi made a request to the District Collector to set up a mental care home in Sivakasi as there were a lot of people with mental illnesses found roaming the streets of Sivakasi. Dr.C.Ramasubramaniam, founder and consultant psychiatrist, M.S.Chellamuthu Trust, explained Tele-psychiatry mobile unit to Collector Hariharan. The mobile unit is equipped with facilities like physical examination couch, ECG Unit, medical consultation cabin and video conferencing facility. The mobile unit would provide a technology based platform to enable mental health professionals to connect to patients in remote areas, he added. Arti and special prayers has been performed to Sri Sathya Sai. Lunch was arranged for the gathering.