The Trust was handed over the management of Gumballi (Integrated
Rural Development Project - Yelandur) PHC
in 1996 in a unique and pioneering example of public-private
partnership in primary health care. All national
health programmes including Reproductive & child
health (RCH) are important components of the activities. The
success of Gumballi PHC and its impact as a 'model PHC' have
strengthened the idea of PPP. Further , the following
specialist care services have beeb integrated with primary
care in the Gumballi PHC.
- Blindness control programme - preventive and surgical
aspects.
- Community dental care & mobile dental unit.
- Integration of epilepsy , mental health , diabetes
mellitus & hypertension.
Now, Karuna Trust runs 30 PHC's in all the districts of
the state of karnataka & 9 primary health centres in
Arunachal Pradesh.
PHC Locations:
Innovations in Primary Health Care
The PHC's run by Karuna Trust are practising models of
innovative and novel approaches to deliver primary health
care. These innovatives are in place in all the PHC's run by
Karuna Trust.
- Strenthen community participation through village
health committees with CNA and PRA.
- 24-hour PHC with all staff staying at the PHC &
sub-centre headquarters.
- Gender - sensitive primary Health care.
- Integration of community mental health care in PHc's.
- Epilepsy control programme including documentation
& treatment of hot water epilepsy in Yelandur Taluk.
over 2000 patients registered till date.
- Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS in primary health care.
- Essential obstetric care & new born care.
- Rational Drug use , essential drug availability &
BIN card system for drug stocking in all PHC's.
- Health monitoring & information system (HMIS) with
gender disaggregated data.
- Management system for PHC's.
- Comrehensive PHC waste management system.
- Community - based Rehabiliation of people with
disability.
Tribal R C H Programme
- Tribal sub - centres in remote tribal hamlets.
- Tribal women trained as ANM's.
- RCH programme in tribal areas.
- Implementation of National health programmes.
- Promotion of traditional medicine through self-help
groups.
Mainstreaming of Traditional
medicine in primary care (in collaboration with UNDP)
India has one of the richest medicinal plant - related
health cultures in the world. It has both a codified &
an oral (folk) tradition. the oral culture has traditionally
been rooted in indigenous communities in the country.
village communities , particularly tribal groups and women ,
have been the most active carriers of indigenous knowledge
about medicinal plants. The activities of Karuna Trust
include :
- Integration of traditional medicines in 20 PHC's.
- Awareness about the use & efficacy of traditional
medicine in schools , anganwadis & self - help
groups.
- Establishment of herbal gardens in rural schools in
the PHC areas.
- Meeting the preventive , promotive & curative care
needs of the community through local health traditions (LHT).
- Preparation of an essential drug list & standard
treatment Guidelines for the Indian system of medicine
(ISM).
- Networking with traditional medicine associations in
other countries to exchange experiences and develop
joint strategies.
Promotion of quality low-cost
generic drugs & rational drug use
- Stocking and distribution of low - cost , quality
essential drugs to NGO's , hospitals & other organizations
in collaboration with LOCOST , Baroda.
- Stocking & running Biocare Pharmacies for generic
drugs in collaboration with Arogya Yojana Trust.
Community Health insurance ( in
collaboration with UNDP)
A community - based model of health insurance with a low
premium of Rs.22/person/year.
Key features include :
- No disease exclusion.
- Immediate settlement of claims.
- Rs.50 per day as compensation for wage loss for in -
patients and Rs. 50 per day out - of - pocket
expenditure.
- Rs. 500 for patients who undergo surgery in addition
to Rs. 500 for drugs.
Mental Health
Mental Health services in primary care began in the
Gumballi PHC in 1996 with support from NIMHANS , Bangalore.
Community Mental Health Care at 20 PHCs
The important aspect of the community mental health care is to integrate mental health care with primary health care. The following activities are under this.
- Training of medical officers of PHCs at NIMHANS.
- Providing access to basic mental health care in 20
PHCs.
- Capacity building of the health workers in mental health care - identification, treatment and follow-up, rehabilitation and counselling.
- Making these PHCs as centres for rehabilitation and follow up of all the homeless mentally ill people treated at Transit Care Centre at
Mysore.
- To make available access to social pension schemes and other benefits for all the mentally ill in the district through PHCs - Disability certificates, pensions etc.
Care for Homeless Mentally Ill
The expanse of homeless mentally ill population is the product of social neglect and the lack of support from Government agencies. This particular initiative strives to establish a comprehensive model for care, support and rehabilitation for the homeless mentally ill population of Mysore. The initiative will also work towards raising public awareness and changing overall attitude towards homeless mentally ill individuals.
The following activities are carried out for homeless mentally ill persons through the project.
Transit Care Centre
The Transit Care facility is located at Chikkalli village of Mysore district. At this stage the transit care facility will be a short time home for homeless mentally ill women. Later the facility will be expanded to men also. Presently the home has the capacity of admitting 24 inmates.
The centre will provide the following services:
- Medical and Psychiatric services.
- Occupational Therapy.
- Psychological services.
- Vocational training and employment program.
- Follow up programs.
- Legal aids.
- Facilitates for reunion with their families in all possible cases.
Mental Health Care in the Destitute Home in Mysore
The Destitute Home at Mysore run by the Social Welfare Department is located at Jyothi Nagar. There is a high prevalence of mental illness among these homeless people. In coordination with the Social Welfare Department the following activities will be conducted at the Destitute Home of
Mysore.
- The Psychiatrist from Transit Care Centre will hold a clinic at Destitute home once in a week for the treatment of mentally ill.
- There will be a full time social worker appointed at the Destitute home.
- Staff at the Destitute Home will be sensitised regarding mental illness.
- Facilitate reunion with family members for all possible cases.
- Utilization of existing infrastructure for occupation and vocational rehabilitation.
- Establish coordination for referral.
Mental Health Helpline
The helpline will be established with the aim of rescuing wandering persons with mental illness. To avoid duplication of services, networking with the personnel managing police helpline, and the helpline for aged citizens will be done. People calling the helplines will be directed appropriately by a trained person appointed by the Trust.
Telemedicine
Services ( in collaboration with ISRO)
Telemedicine services at Karuna
Trust PHC's in association with Narayana Hrudayalaya ,
bangalore and Amrita Institute , kochi.
![PHCs at Karnataka](javascript:winop("images/KARNATAKA.jpg")){kind=link}
![PHCs at Arunachal Pradesh](javascript:winop("images/ap.jpg")){kind=link}