SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRMMCHRC), SRMIST-Kattankulathur, recently held an event to honor one of its committed project teams for their key involvement in the operation of the ‘Mobile Wellness Program for Rural Population’which is implemented by a partnership between SRMIST, SRM Andhra Pradesh (SRM AP) and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR).

Dignitaries Presence:

~ Dr. Nitin M. Nagarkar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge) & Dean (Medical), SRMMCHRC
~ Lt. Col. Dr. A. Ravikumar, Advisor, SRMMCHRC
~ Prof. Dr. M. Logaraj, Associate Dean (Quality Assurance), SRMMCHRC
~ Prof. Dr. K. V. Leela, Associate Dean (UG Academics), SRMMCHRC
~ Prof. Dr. V. V. Anantharaman, HOD of Community Medicine, SRMMCHRC

The Mobile Wellness Program was intended to identify underprivileged rural communities with major diseases at a preliminary stage. Nearly 1,500 individuals from Chengalpattu district were screened using four key diagnostic tools:

1. Breast Thermography: To discover the development of malignancy in the mammary glands
2. Onco Diagnoscope: To find out if there are precursors of oral cancer
3. Tele ECG: A personal ECG for checking the state of the heart
4. Tuberculoscope: To detect tuberculosis (TB)

This was done by employing new diagnostic techniques with a great baseline fieldwork exercise carried out by the postgraduate and paramedical staff of the Department of Community Medicine, SRMMCHRC. Samples from cases of tuberculosis were taken by the microbiology section and abnormalities found in breast tissue in thermography screening were examined with mammography courtesy of the Radiology Department of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre.

The success of this project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Prof. Dr. M. Logaraj, Associate Dean of Quality Assurance, SRMMCHRC, who served as the Co-Principal Investigator for Phase 1; Dr. Aamina Hussain, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Medicine, SRMMCHRC, as the faculty in charge; the dedicated team from the Department of Community Medicine; and Dr. K. A. Sunitha, Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SRM AP, as the Principal Investigator. Together, they all contributed significantly to making this initiative a success.

Dr. V. V. Anantharaman, Head – Department of Community Medicine, and Prof. Dr. Logaraj on behalf of the team expressed gratitude to Dr. Nitin M Nagarkar, Lt. Col. Dr. A. Ravikumar, and the team for their wonderful support during the project. Dr. Nagarkar went beyond by sponsoring 50% of the testing charges, thus keeping the program’s costs low whilst touching as many rural dwellers as possible.

In appreciation to SRMIST, Dr. B. Venkatraman, the Director of IGCAR, Kalpakam honored SRM Medical College Hosptial and Research Centre with a shield during our visit to Kalpakam and instigated the partnership on Phase 2 of the project with the same team as they signed a MOU with SRM AP.

The success of this initiative can attest to the dedication of SRMMCHRC to enhancing the health of the public through invention and partnership. As Phase 2 of this project continues, the institution seeks to expand its contribution to the acceleration of improvements in rural health care, by introducing the latest technology as a means of early identification and averting the occurrence of such incidences.

SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre extends gratitude to the entire team and appreciates the invaluable support of our partners. Such an initiative is a clear example of what teamwork and commitment to change in the quality of rural health care entails.