A) Dementia screening camp for the elderly at Rotary Hall, Shankarpura

Department of Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal and the Department of Psychiatry, KMC, MAHE, Manipal jointly organised a Dementia screening camp at Rotary Hall, Shankarpura in collaboration with Rotary Club Shankarpura, Department of Student Affairs, MAHE, Manipal, Primary Health Centre, Moodabettu, St. Johns Church, Shankarpura, and CSI Christha Mahima Church, Manipura. This year's theme for Alzheimer’s Day is “Never too early, Never too late," which underlines not only the essential role of Alzheimer's disease risk factors identification but also the implementation of proactive risk reduction measures to hamper and, if possible, prevent the onset of dementia. The program was presided over by Rtn George D’silva, President, Rotary Club Shankarpura, and the chief guest was Dr Geetha Maiya, Director, Student Affairs, MAHE. Rtn Chandra Poojary, Zonal Lieutenant, Rotary Club Shanakarpura and Mr Sandesh, Community Health Officer, Subasnagara, have also participated in the program. Dr Rashmi and Dr Aravind Pandey, Deputy Directors, Student Affairs, MAHE, were also present. The program is aimed to achieve the sustainable development goal No three (SDG 3) To sensitise the general public about Dementia, Dr Rajeshkrishna Bhandary, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, KMC Manipal, took an awareness session on “Early intervention in Dementia”, and Mrs Asha K Nayak, Assistant Professor, MCON, MAHE Manipal, highlighted the topic “Caring for the person with Dementia”. Dr Rajeshkrishna Bhandary, Associate Professor and Dr Abhiram, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, KMC, Manipal conducted the screening camp. Mr Roshan David Jathana, Dr Rayan Mathias, and Mr Jeevan Lewis, Student counsellors, MAHE coordinated and managed the participants for the screening camp. Sixty members participated in the program and Forty-one elderly were screened for Dementia. The camp aims to screen the elderly to identify the risk factors for Dementia. People at risk were referred to hospitals for specialised care. The overall program was coordinated by Dr Binil V, Additional Professor and Mr Renjulal Yesodharan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal.

B) Radio talk on Dementia

A talk on raising awareness among the general public and support to those dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias was aired at 4.15 pm on 21st September 2023 in Manipal, Udupi and nearby villages of Shivalli, Alevooru, Perampally, Badagabettu, Ambalapady, Kalyanapura, Udyavara, and Kukkehally, on Community Radio Manipal 90.4. Second-year PBBSc students Deekshitha and Chaithra give their voice to the program.