Mangalore: Mega Health Exhibition ‘Arogyotsava’ Begins at FMCI 
Pics: Nellu Permannur
News by Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)

Mangalore, Nov 6: Deputy commissioner (DC) Ponnuraj inaugurated ‘Arogyotsava’, a comprehensive mega health exhibition of Fr Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI), Kankanady, here on Friday November 6.  

It has been organized by FMCI as part of the decennial celebrations of Fr Muller Medical College (FMMC), which will be held at Fr Muller Grounds here from Friday to Sunday November 8. 

Ponnuraj, speaking on the occasion, said that health care service is a noble profession that has to be entirely dedicated to the service of humanity.  “FMCI was the first to set up an isolation unit for H1N1 when it was first reported in DK district”, he said.

Ponnuraj added that humanity must be considered supreme while providing health care services.  

He further said that the health care sector in developed countries, including USA, face problems. The DC urged FMCI to set-up a few primary health centres (PHC) in DK. 

FMCI director Fr Patrick Rodrigues said that the institution has been extending nursing services to a few PHCs on the outskirts of the city.  

He added that around 350 medical officers, 2,000 students and para-medical assistants, will provide health information to visitors at Arogyotsava.

“A separate stall has been set up with a display of earthly possessions of the late Fr Muller, FMCI founder, on the occasion of his 99th death anniversary at the mega exhibition”, added Dr Rodrigues. 

Ponnuraj also released the ‘Fr Muller Manual of Nursing Procedure’ authored by Sr Aileen Mathias as well as the FMCI decennial celebrations t-shirts on the same occasion. 

Over 50 stalls have been set up at the venue and offer various health care services such as blood bank, laboratory services, integrated counseling, testing of HIV, microbiology, general surgery, pharmacology, pathology, gynaecology, anesthesiology, and psychiatry.

Arogyotsava will focus on creating awareness about health and hygiene, identification and prevention of common diseases and treatment, video presentations on health-related topics, charts, power point presentations on disease development, on-the-spot quiz contests for the public with attractive prizes, puppet shows, and plays on health-related issues. 

FMMCH administrator Fr Stany Tauro, assistant administrator Fr Vincent Saldanha, and Fr Prakash were present on the dais.

FMCI chief of medical services and convener Dr B Sanjeev Rai delivered the introductory address.

FMMC administrator Fr Denis D’Sa welcomed the gathering.  FMMC dean Dr J P Alva proposed the vote of thanks.