Yeoman service to mentally ill patients

Erragadda: Various NGOs in the city are working for the well-being of needy and they are engaged in doing various social services for their betterment. One such organisation is Sri Sathya Sai SevaSamithi, Kukatpally. For the 9 years, its members have been rendering hairwash, bathing and nail trimming services to the mentally ill women patients at The Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda.

Sai SevaSamithi has adopted a novel method based on psychosocial rehabilitation and takes a holistic point of view, emphasising on the connection of mind, body, and spirit. With the help of five women volunteers, the Samithiis providing homely treatment as a mother would care for her daughters by giving them a bath, trimming their nail and complete hygiene approach by making their body and mind fresh weekly once.

Prasanna, the Sevadal coordinator, says:"For the last 9 years, we have been doing this service every Wednesday.We visit government hospital for mental care, Erragadda. We provide women patients with bath, manicure and also hair wash. We began the service at the request of the officials at the mental hospital. As they are mentally unstable, patients do not even have a sense of hygiene and do not know how to keep themselves clean. Also, all women needs are taken care of by our organisation."

The Samithi members say proper care is taken while handling the inmates. They also try to motivate them and spend some time with them. "After the bath given by our volunteers, we also serve them free breakfast and holy ash is applied in their four head," says one of them.

The main aim of this service is to give proper care to the mental patients and many patients are from economically deprived backgrounds. Many are abandoned by their families. Handling this type of patients requires patience and a service attitude.

Impressed by their noble service, various people and organisers assured them of support and help, but no one has come forward yet. Our Samithimembers and a few interested people helps us in this service. They donate soap, shampoo and breakfast items also, informs Prasanna.

Apart from rendering free yeoman services at the Institute, theSamithi members have also adopted upper primary schools at Kukatpally. Every Thursday, they arrange free breakfast and also conduct imparting of moral values to the children.

By Meghana Nath