Parkinson’s: Education, support from government and corporates is key to ensure treatment for all

Moneylife Digital Team 10 March 2015

Speaking at International Women’s Day at Moneylife Foundation, Dr Maria Barretto feels that with financial and infrastructure support from the government and private sector, we can help all those suffering from Parkinson's disease in India

“We need more education about Parkinson's in India,” said Dr Maria Barretto, after her felicitation at the International Women's Day celebrations organised by Moneylife Foundation. With financial and infrastructure support from the government as well as the private sector, she said we would be able to help all those suffering from Parkinson's disease in India.

Dr Barretto, chief executive of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society (PDMDS), has developed a 'community based multidisciplinary model of care' to reach out to patients who have limited or no access to medical care.

In her speech, she highlighted the importance of educating people about Parkinson's in order to ensure early detection and medical assistance. She also urged corporates to get involved in the cause to help PDMDS expand its reach and provide therapy and medical care to people all over the country. She suggested that it is possible to extend help through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) route that is available to all corporates. She also mentioned that government support is absolutely essential in ensuring that assistance can be provided to all citizens.

The fact of the matter is that there is little awareness about Parkinson's in our country. Most people resign themselves to a life of dependence and handicap as soon as they learn the diagnosis. And while it is incorrect to claim that there is a permanent cure for the disease, it is possible to manage it.

Many of Dr Barretto's patients have fought the disease and significantly decreased the rate of neural degeneration. In fact, several patients being treated at PDMDS personally came to attend the event, and witness their doctor being felicitated by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman.

The mode adopted at PDMDS for treatment of Parkinson's is a multi-pronged approach that aims to improve the overall quality of life for the patients. And because the treatment is provided through a group-therapy approach, it is highly cost-effective. This program is currently being conducted at 15 centres across the city of Mumbai and has two more centres in Maharashtra. It has also been initiated in three other states in the country - Goa, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Barretto has been invited to speak at the World Congress of Neurology in Vienna in 2013, and the World Parkinson's Congress in Montreal.

Here are the contact details of PDMDS:

Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorder Society

6, Jasville, 1st Floor,

Opposite Liberty Cinema,

Marine Lines, Mumbai,

Maharashtra, India 400020

Phone: 022-24977477

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.parkinsonssocietyindia.com/

Comments

User

ganeshitalia1997

2 years ago

Sir, my mother 80yrs, suffering from Parkinson's we need cure for it, some support ,we are middle class people. We are from Pondicherry tamil nadu chennai. Pl suggest me your help. Ganesh.