15-JUN-2015 MARGAO: Acclaimed by renowned 'Time' magazine as among the 100 most influential persons in the world, Dr Vikram Patel on Saturday opined that "right to health is as central as the right to education and right to food." "Goa can be a model state for mental health care in the country with its small population comprising educated people and best health resources in the country, since Goa possesses all the medical specialties. One of the key targets of mental health is suicides and Goa has one of the highest suicide rates in the country that should be a major concern since it involves young people. We should ask ourselves, why do they kill themselves? What can be done to change it? Another issue is of alcoholism that is prevalent in Goa and is destroying homes. There is no discourse although it is a health hazard," remarked Patel, who quickly added that he was not advocating prohibition. Patel further highlighted the need for a joint effort by various government agencies along with private firms and NGOs to tackle these problems along with other forms of mental ailments such as autism and others. Speaking in Konkani after being felicitated for this honour at a workshop "Goan Psychiatry in Perspective: From Abbe Faria to Vikram Patel" organised by the Psychiatric Society of Goa at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, an emotional Patel expressed his gratitude for being thrust in the same bracket as the renowned founder of hypnotism Abbe Faria. Patel noted that the only similarity between the latter and him was that Faria was born in Candolim-Goa but attained fame in Europe whereas the Mumbai-born Patel gained fame for his work done in Goa. He further gave credit to Dr Abhay Bhan who used community health workers to treat pneumonia in babies as his inspiration and emphasized the need to tap such human resources as he urged the government to spend more funds towards this purpose. This workshop was held to commemorate the 259th birth anniversary of Abbe Faria who was introduced to the audience by both chief guest, professor Isabel Santa Rita Vaz as well as Mary Ann Lobo D'Mello. While the latter also recalled various requests that were made to the government to preserve the memory of Faria that have remained unfulfilled, Dr Amit Dias spoke about "Dr Patel: Well-being Warrior" and Dr Anil Rane delivered his discourse on the 'Mental Health Scenario' in the country. Prachi Khandeparkar, Dr Rajendra Hegde and Dr Ashish Srivastava, the secretary of Psychiatric Society of Goa also spoke at the function. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Right-to-health-is-as-vital-as-right-to-food/articleshow/47668428.cms
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