Mangaluru: KMC Hospital Opens Child Guidance Centre at Attavar

Mangaluru: The Department of Psychiatry of KMC Hospital Attavar initiated a new step in the care and management of children and adolescents with behavioural, emotional and academic problems.

The Child Guidance Centre (CGC) was inaugurated at the Sushrutha Hall KMC Hospital Attavar here, on April 25.

The programme began with an invocation by Dr Rekha. HOD of Psychiatry, Dr Keshava Pai welcomed the gathering. Dr Anand Venugopal (Medical Superintendent of the KMC Hospitals, Mangalore) inaugurated the CGC by lighting the traditional lamp and ensured all his support for the new venture.

Dr Elizabeth Daniel, a well-known Child Psychologist and a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Yenepoya Medical College, Deralakatte Mangalore, in her keynote address stressed on the need of a CGC in the present day when the stress on parents and expectation from the children are too high. The Dean of KMC Mangalore, Dr M V Prabhu highlighted on the importance of a CGC to function even at the community level. He spoke about conducting awareness programmes for teachers as they are the primary source to identify the children with problems. Dr Seemanthini T S delivered the vote of thanks.

Later, there were talks by Dr Elizabeth Daniel on ‘Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and its Various Types’, Syam K Ravindran (Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology) who spoke on ‘Holistic Management of SLD’, Sudeep P K (a consultant Clinical Psychologist at Brindavan Hospital, Mysuru) who spoke about the ‘Home-based Management of SLD’, and Dr Seemanthini T S (Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology) who spoke on ‘Behavioral Problems of Children’. At the end, there was a Q&A session, wherein Sudeep P K, Dr Keshava Pai, Mariella D’Souza, Dr Seemanthini T S and Syam K Ravindran addressed the doubts of the parents. Dr Poonam, Dr Sneha Sharma, Dr Harshitha and Dr Praveena compered the programme.

The programme was well attended by parents of children with SLD and well appreciated by them. The parents felt the need of a support group and the Department of Psychiatry has acknowledged the same and will be conducting regular monthly meetings.

Dr Anand Venugopal requested the public to avail the services of the CGC, which will be available on all working days,i.e Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm at the Department of Psychiatry, KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangaluru.