Hygiene and sanitation are the buzz words of the moment, and that’s just what the alumni of the Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) are focussing on.
Former students of the college - from the first batch in 1960 to the one that passed out this year - have come together for a project, ‘Seva’, in the course of which they have adopted a village in Tiruvallur district, said Prasad Manne, secretary, KMC Alumni Association.
“We wanted to build trust in the community and give something back,” said Dr. Manne. The village, Namasivayapuram in Kadambattur block, has 91 houses. The alumni will focus on three aspects — prevention of communicable diseases, identifying non-communicable diseases and improving maternal and child health.
Already, a household survey has been completed and three medical camps have been held, with patients referred to the local primary health centre and other government hospitals. The alumni have also helped in the building of 12 toilets and are planning to help with 31 more, Dr. Manne said. Other initiatives include awareness talks about preventing the breeding of mosquitoes and health education, he added.
Deputy director of Health Services, Tiruvallur, J. Prabakaran, said the group had done outpatient services at the village. An official of the college said the alumni has been involved with helping students too.
Book bank
Last year, the alumni association started a book bank for students who could not afford medical textbooks. So far, books worth nearly ₹3 lakh have been given, Dr. Manne said. The association, which has around 5,000 members, communicates through Facebook and WhatsApp groups, he said.
Former students of the college - from the first batch in 1960 to the one that passed out this year - have come together for a project, ‘Seva’, in the course of which they have adopted a village in Tiruvallur district, said Prasad Manne, secretary, KMC Alumni Association.
“We wanted to build trust in the community and give something back,” said Dr. Manne. The village, Namasivayapuram in Kadambattur block, has 91 houses. The alumni will focus on three aspects — prevention of communicable diseases, identifying non-communicable diseases and improving maternal and child health.
Already, a household survey has been completed and three medical camps have been held, with patients referred to the local primary health centre and other government hospitals. The alumni have also helped in the building of 12 toilets and are planning to help with 31 more, Dr. Manne said. Other initiatives include awareness talks about preventing the breeding of mosquitoes and health education, he added.
Deputy director of Health Services, Tiruvallur, J. Prabakaran, said the group had done outpatient services at the village. An official of the college said the alumni has been involved with helping students too.
Book bank
Last year, the alumni association started a book bank for students who could not afford medical textbooks. So far, books worth nearly ₹3 lakh have been given, Dr. Manne said. The association, which has around 5,000 members, communicates through Facebook and WhatsApp groups, he said.