Nitte University takes dementia awareness and screening to Bantwal village

Nitte University takes dementia awareness and screening to Bantwal village

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, September 29, 2026: Nitte (Deemed to be University) conducted a dementia awareness and community health programme at Manila village in Bantwal taluk, reaching more than 90 residents aged 40 and above.

The programme was organised by the Department of Public Health, Nitte Institute of Allied Health Sciences (NIAHS), in association with Manila Grama Panchayat, as part of the university’s community outreach initiatives. The programme was held to mark World Alzheimer’s Month 2026 and focused on the theme, “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.”

The awareness session was led by Dr Sherley D’Almeida, public health consultant and alumna of Nitte University. She explained the difference between normal age-related forgetfulness and dementia, highlighted early warning signs and stressed the importance of timely intervention.

Participants were advised to watch for symptoms such as repeatedly asking the same questions, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty performing routine tasks and unexplained changes in mood or personality.

The session also highlighted measures that can help reduce the risk of dementia, including controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, and remaining mentally and socially active. Memory games and everyday examples were used to make the session more interactive.

ASHA workers who attended the programme said the awareness would help them identify possible warning signs among rural families during their routine interactions and guide them towards appropriate healthcare.

As part of the programme, MPH students from the Department of Public Health screened around 70 residents, of whom about 20 were referred for further evaluation. Doctors from the Department of Public Health Dentistry, A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, also provided free dental care to residents.

The initiative was coordinated by Dr Ashith PC, public health specialist and alumnus of Nitte University’s Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Grama Panchayat and local community.

Residents were also informed about the KSHEMA health card, which facilitates affordable treatment at participating Nitte healthcare facilities.

Swami Shri Mohandas Paramahamsa Swamiji of Shridhama, Manila, supported the initiative, while Panchayat Administrator Dileep facilitated the venue and local arrangements.

The programme combined dementia awareness, preventive screening, referral services and access to healthcare, reinforcing Nitte University’s efforts to extend public health initiatives to rural communities.