Boaz Hospital to celebrate its 40th anniversary K.

Manikandan TAMBARAM: Nestled amidst lush greenery off the Velachery Main Road at Santhoshapuram is the Dr. G.D. Boaz Memorial Hospital School (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre). And in July, the institution will be entering its fifth decade of service. Founded in 1966, the institution is named after Dr. G.D. Boaz, a psychology professor, whose initiative led to the opening of the Department of Psychology at the University of Madras. He was also a contributor to the "Know Your Mind" column of The Hindu between 1948 and 1965. 150 inmates His son, Prabhakaran David Boaz, said the institution functioned from the city for the first nine years before moving into the present location, spread over nine acres. It now has about 150 inmates, including women, from all over the State. Over the years, the institution was able to acquire its own dairy, farms and poultry, meeting its needs to an extent. The institution has a power laundry and receives orders from city hospitals and is an important source of revenue. Most of the inmates have been diagnosed with chronic residual schizophrenia; while some of them return to their homes after treatment, many others stay for longer periods. "Mental disorders cannot be always cured, but can be kept under control with proper medication and good care," explains Ajit Boaz, director of the institute. Staff in the institute provide individual, psycho and occupational therapies (such as mat weaving and doll making) to the inmates and observe if there is any improvement in the inmates' behaviour. Stress on hygiene Stress is laid on personal hygiene and the inmates are under the personal care of staff, be it their routine activities or therapy. In order to the keep the inmates engaged, they are made to undergo meditation, newspaper reading, quiz and other constructive activities regularly. The institute in 1988, started the Reliance Hospital to meet the medical needs of the inmates as well as local residents. Mr. Prabhakaran Boaz said they planned to celebrate the anniversary of the institute by organising seminars and discussions on rehabilitation of the mentally ill. : Occupational therapy is an important component of rehabilitation of mentally ill persons at Dr. G.D.Boaz Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre, Santoshapuram, near Tambaram. CHENNAI: Right opposite the reserve forest on Velachery Main Road at Santoshapuram, there is a sanctuary this one for persons with mental illness. For 41 years, the institution on the sprawling green campus has weathered many a disturbance to treat and rehabilitate the mentally ill. While changes have been part of the journey of the Dr. G.D. Boaz Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre since 1966, the latest change two new frames that hang in the office of the director, Ajit Boaz brings them much joy.

One is a picture taken when the founder of the organisation, P.D. Boaz, received a State award from the Chief Minister on the Independence Day this year, and the second, the citation of the award for the Best Institute for the Disabled. It is recognition for our work, the elder Boaz says. The institution, launched in 1966, in memory of his father G.D. Boaz, who started the psychology department in Madras University, was initially intended for mentally retarded persons. Over the years, it evolved into a facility for the mentally ill, who had few places to go to. Having a mentally ill person is a big strain on the family. It can get extremely difficult, especially if the patient is prone to violence. Our place gives them the professional care that most families flounder to provide, he says. Maintenance fee The unit moved into its present location in 1975, when Mr. Boaz purchased Mathuram Santoshams Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Today, Mr. Ajit says, it houses 220 inmates, with various mental illnesses and degrees of illness. They have been bought there by members of the family, most of whom pay a sum monthly for maintenance. M.S.Jagadeesan, consultant psychiatrist, says most of the patients come in with a long history of untreated illness. Laundry unit Two psychiatrists and a general practitioner visit the facility regularly. Psychologists, occupational therapists, psychiatric social workers, care givers, wardens and security staff complement the activities. Occupational therapy is an important component in rehabilitation. It is a key step towards restoring their functionality and imparting skills, Shoba Chandrasekar, says occupational therapist. The campus itself is nearly self-sufficient; it supports its patients almost fully. Poultry and cattle head are reared on the campus and a gobar gas plant is used to cook the food. A mechanised laundry unit which services city hospitals is being run profitably to subsidise the running of the facility, says D. Sethuraman, psychiatric social worker.