In Andhra Pradesh, medical students from Rajamahendravaram Government Medical College adopted a total of 750 families in the city as part of the Family Adoption Programme (FAP) recommended by the National Medical Commission.

According to the Journal of Community Health Management, statistics of 2020 say that 65.5% of the population in India lives in rural areas, and their accessibility to healthcare facilities is limited due to various factors like lack of health literacy, unawareness about communicable and non-communicable diseases, etc.

This Family Adoption Programme introduced by the National Medical Commission provides knowledge on community-based health care as part of the Community Medicine subject for Indian medical students to understand the disease profile in rural areas, which would be a different experience when compared to their patients in medical colleges.

As part of this programme, 150 Rajamahendravaram Government Medical College students adopted 750 families. Each student adopted five families and will spend a total of 78 hours and 20 visits over the first three years.

During their first year, the medical students should make nine visits and spend 27 hours with their adopted families. In the second year, they will make six visits and spend 30 hours with the families. Finally, during their third year of medical school, they will spend 21 hours and visit the families five times.

The medical students have adopted 750 families in Annamachari Road, Durga Nagar, and Vambay Colony through the Family Adoption Programme.

Dr. P. Manoj told the media that this Family Adoption Programme is an initiative to ensure healthcare facilities in rural areas. He also said that, as part of the programme, the medical students should visit their adopted families on Fridays and collect their demographic history, arrange health check-ups, do clinical examinations, and coordinate with their mentor for treatment planning, communication, and follow-up for remedial measures.

A report should be submitted by the students regarding the improvement of general health, immunization, anemia, TB control, addiction control, and the people’s awareness of sanitation.

Reference:

1) https://www.jchm.in/html-article/16943

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/Rohini Devi)