150 MBBS medicos of Rajamahendravaram GMC adopt 750 families as part of Family Adoption Program

Andhra Pradesh: Under the Family Adoption Programme (FAP) initiated by the National Medical Commission, Rajamahendravaram Government Medical College has adopted 750 families for 150 1st year MBBS students in the city.

Under this training program, first-year medical students will adopt five families each, make nine visits and spend 27 hours with them annually. Second-year students will make six visits and spend 30 hours, whereas third-year medicos will make 5 visits and spend 21 hours with their adopted families. In total, students must spend 78 hours with their adopted families over the course of 20 visits in their three years.

The training program last week at the Government Medical College. Along with the Government Medical College Principal/ Additional DME of Rajamahendravaram, Superintendent of Government General Hospital, and Community Medicine HOD Dr ML Suryaprabha, Vice-Principal KV Siva Prasad, Nodal Officer Dr P Manoj, Health Educator R Srinivas, and many others were also present in the programme.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr B Sawbhagya Lakshmi, Government Medical College Principal/ Additional DME of Rajamahendravaram said that “first-year students of the college were given training under the family adoption programme”. Dr Lakshmi further added, “150 medical students have adopted 750 families as part of the Family Adoption Programme as per National Medical Council guidelines. The 150 first year students will be guided by a professor during their visits. Health workers may also be involved in the programme to assist the medicos”.

She also said that “150 medical students will adopt 5 families each from 750 families in Annamachari Road, Durga Nagar, and Vambay Colony under Rajamahendravaram to monitor the health condition of 750 families and to increase their relationship with them”.

In addition to this, FAP nodal officer and assistant professor Dr P Manoj has told the New Indian Express “The students have been instructed to visit the adopted families on Fridays. They should collect demographic profile history of the allocated family members, conduct clinical examination, organise health check ups, coordinate with their mentor to decide on treatment plan, maintain communication and follow up on remedial measures”.

While examining the 750 families, the medicos will have to submit a regular report to the college on improvement in general health, vaccination, sanitation, de-addiction, improvement in anemia, tuberculosis control, hygiene awareness and other issues.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC's consideration of introducing a new Family Adoption Programme as a part of the MBBS curriculum. Such a step was taken by the top medical regulator with an aim of making healthcare services accessible in the rural areas in an equitable manner.

Family adoption program aims to provide an experiential learning opportunity to Indian Medical graduates towards community based health care and thereby enhance equity in health.

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