President Murmu takes part in Nimhans golden jubilee, inaugurates cancer centre in Belagavi

BENGALURU, BELAGAVI: President Droupadi Murmu arrived in the state on a one-day visit. Upon her arrival at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru, she was received by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Medical Education Minister Sharan, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh Prakash Patil and others.

The President then proceeded to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) to take part in the golden jubilee celebrations. Addressing the gathering, the President of India said, “This occasion is a moment of celebration for not only NIMHANS but for the entire country. The dedication displayed by faculty members, students and administration of NIMHANS to the noble cause of mental health has helped NIMHANS play an exemplary role in our society”.

The President said that innovative research and rigorous academic programme with exceptional patient care have made NIMHANS an undisputed leader in mental health and neurosciences. “The history of NIMHANS goes back to the nineteenth century and thus the evolution of the institute affects the evolution of mental healthcare in India”, she stated, according to a PIB release.

The President noted that the Bellary model of community-based mental healthcare pioneered by NIMHANS has set benchmarks in mental health delivery. She also highlighted that the Tele-MANAS platform, with its 53 centres across the country, has served nearly 70 lakh people in their chosen languages during the last two years. “This transformative service deserves commendation, and I also applaud the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its continued support of this initiative”, she stated.

Congratulating NIMHANS for receiving the prestigious Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion from the World Health Organization, the President stated, “This recognition underscores the institution’s commitment to addressing the mental health challenges of our times”.

Noting that there is a growing awareness on mental health and initiatives like Tele-MANAS have enabled individuals to seek help more openly, the President said that “NIMHANS has been at the forefront of addressing these concerns, including collaborations in child and adolescent mental health, genetic research, and neurodegenerative disorders”.

The President highlighted that NIMHANS exemplifies the successful integration of modern healthcare systems with traditional methods such as yoga and Ayurveda to alleviate mental and physical distress. “I am also pleased to note the positive gender ratio at NIMHANS, with 79.7 pc of undergraduate students and 71.4 pc of postgraduate students being women”, she said.

As part of the celebrations, various new facilities were inaugurated today by the President to further NIMHANS’ mission of delivering cutting-edge care in mental health and neurosciences. These are: Psychiatry Speciality Block, Central Laboratory Complex, Bhima Hostel, Next Generation 3T MRI Scanner and Advanced DSA System.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Health Minister J P Nadda congratulated all the students and faculty members for elevating NIMHANS into one of the premier institutes in India. “I convey my gratitude to the faculty members, students and all the relevant stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of NIMHANS from a mental health institute to an Institute of National Importance”, he stated.

The Union Minister said, “Patient footfall in NIMHANS have grown more than fivefold, from under 10 lakhs in the 1970s to over 50 lakhs in the last decade. The scale at which NIMHANS treats its immense footfall of patients makes them a leader in quality healthcare in India”. He also congratulated NIMHANS for being the first NABH accredited hospital among all the Institutes of National Importance and for being ranked among the top 200 hospitals in the world.

Nadda also informed about the National Mental Health Programme of the Union Government which is operational from 2022 and highlighted that the government is working on mainstreaming mental health. “The government is working on providing mental healthcare through the TeleMANAS scheme and NIMHANS being the apex coordinating centre for TeleMANAS is at the forefront of this endeavour”, he said. He also noted that NIMHANS trains over 1000 students for TeleMANAS and counselling.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “For the past 5 decades, NIMHANS has emerged as a symbol of excellence and hope, making remarkable contributions to mental health and neurosciences in India and beyond”. He further said that in its decade-long journey as an Institute of National Importance, NIMHANS has become a global leader in clinical care, research and education, shaping mental health policies and inspiring practices worldwide.

Minister Sharanprakash R. Patil, MPs P C Mohan, Tejasvi Surya, Dr C N Manjunath, and Shri. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, and Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS were also present on the occasion.

Later in the afternoon, President Murmu headed to Belagavi for the inauguration of the KLE Cancer Institute. In Belagavi, the President was received by Prabhakar Kore, chairman of the KLE Society. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, legislators Mahantesh Koujalagi and Asif Raju Sait were also present.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the district stadium and district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, former CM Jagadish Shettar and others were present. The cancer centre has been built at a cost of Rs 300 crore.