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Epilepsy is not the end of the world, it is not the end of anything
Mission: " To enable people with epilepsy live a full life with everyone, like everyone in spite of epilepsy "
Vision : "To provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services to people with epilepsy"
EPICENTTRE (Epilepsy Institute and Centre for Treatment Training, Research and
Education) was started on March 9th 1994 by Dr. Prithika Chary, India’s first and only Lady Neurologist cum Neurosurgeon at rented premises in East Abhiramapuram, Chennai. |
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It became operational and saw its first patients on 2nd June 1994. It housed four consultation rooms, has a lab collection center, had ECG, analog and digital EEG and the first digital video EEG in the private sector in South India. Services of Neurologist, Neurosurgeon, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Special Educator, Speech therapist, Dietitian were all available under one roof. Several patients with epilepsy were diagnosed and treated here till 1997.
Thereafter, EPICENTTRE was moved to Apollo Specialty Hospital to expand its scope of activities to dealing with emergencies and epilepsy surgery. Here many patients with epilepsy turned their lives from despair to hope assisted by the expertise of Dr. Prithika Chary and her team till 2000. During this time a monthly free epilepsy clinic for the poorest of the poor, funded entirely by Epicenttre was a special feature. Except for the video EEG and EEG services all other services were utilized from the infrastructure available at the Apollo Hospitals.
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In 2003, December even this was outsourced, leaving Dr. Prithika Chary free to focus on clinical delivery of epilepsy services without the diversion of administrative duties. EPICENTTRE has an office in T.Nagar but continues to operate with little or no inventory using available infrastructure and accessing available services like laboratory, EEG, specialist cross consultation, support services, etc.
From June 2005 to September 2010, Epicenttre has been operational at:
Flat 4, I Floor, "Gokulam"
Old No. 26 New No. 42, Unnamalaiammal Street,
(Street opposite Sowbhagya Grinder Showroom)
Off North Usman Road ( 4th left after Vivek & Co)
T.Nagar,Chennai 600 017
Since September 2010, EPICENTTRE has vacated from the above address and will soon be virtual to enable patients to access the doctor through the internet and videoconferencing with a payment gateway from anywhere, in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India or from any part of the world. This facility is being worked on and will be available from 16th January 2011.
Coming soon – Videoconferencing facilities for consultation through virtual office
TRACK THIS WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DETAILS OF DR PRITHIKA CHARY’S VIRTUAL OFFICE.
"The current thrust is on education, training and courses in epilepsy care and clinical care of patients"
Since June 2005, Epicenttre has been operational at
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EPICENTTRE
(Epilepsy Institute & Centre for Treatment,
Training, Research & Education)
EPICENTTRE has been vacated
For further information
Contact 9840992310
E-mail : info@drprithikachary.com
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| Dr.
Prithika Chary addressing Primary Care Physicians at Guwahati |
Members
of epilepsy support group interacting with each other |
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One of the important thrusts of EPICENTTRE today is to improve epilepsy awareness to remove stigma, discrimination and marginalisation.
Programs in schools, colleges, villages, through support groups were conducted. National epilepsy day on November 14th is exploited to enable month long programs of this kind. In 2003, these talks culminated in a walk with positive banners on epilepsy on the Marina beach. Every year meaningful awareness programs are done.
In 2007, a two day exhibition, painting competition, lectures and demonstrations on the facts of epilepsy was done for the public
In 2008 the target was school teachers and a program called Epiwareness was conducted with Q & A with neurologists, skit competition on the facts about epilepsy and a booklet Teachers Guide – enabling children with epilepsy was released.
In 2009 the awareness program was in the form of three messages – one each of what to do when someone has a seizure, that people with epilepsy can lead normal lives and that people with epilepsy can marry and have children was flashed on the adscreen of Ooh Media for one week at 15 minute intervals in malls, IT facilities, movie theatres etc as an awareness about epilepsy
In addition to this, Dr. Prithika Chary has conducted "camps in Siliguri, Guwahati, Kolkata etc where a clinic, a public awareness talk and a talk to local general physicians where the activities extend over a three day period" Since 1998 over 60 successful epilepsy surgeries have been performed and annually over 500 new patients with epilepsy have been treated with drug therapy. This has led to Dr. Prithika Chary becoming richer in expertise and experience and she is most sought after for epilepsy care by patients and colleagues from all over the world.
EPICENTTRE ran a monthly support group called Epiclub one day of the month for people with epilepsy and their advocates. Since June 2005, EPICENTTRE jointly with Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, rechristined Epiclub as "Abhaya" and the inmates put up a street play highlighting the aspects of epilepsy at Rani Seethai Hall in November 2005. This has subsequently been re-enacted and brought out as an educational DVD. There was also a collage workshop in March 2006. Abhaya aims to dispel myths and stigmatization of people with epilepsy.
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EPICENTTRE 2008
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| Epilepsy Day 2008
- Target – School Teachers |
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Epilepsy Day 2008 – Target Children in an orphanage
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Epilepsy Day 2008 – Chief Guest – MD and Chief of an exclusive International Residential School in Chennai |
For details regarding the support group meetings or volunteering for assisting or working with people with epilepsy contact 98409-92310 |
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