A team of Physicians and paramedical staff went to India from USA and Canada and joined with counter part form India for a 18 days visit (sept-oct). This visit was sponsored by Sahaita Inc. along with the active support of some community members. During this time the group had a marathon run of 6 medical camps in various areas of Punjab and one in Himachal examining and treating about 8000 patients. This is in itself a record that such a step has been taken by any NGO in such short time. Well over 200 cataract surgeries were performed in this month of October with phaco-emulsification and lens implants making it possible for that many patients to have the gift of vision. Click here to see pictures from the medical camps in India.

Dates: September 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2006 and October 4, 5, and 7, 2006
Location: Punjab and Himachal, India

October 7, 2006

Last camp of the series was held on 7th Oct at Guru Arjun Dev Charitable Hospital in Banga. This hospital came into existence last year and we had promised to hold camp this year and we delivered as we said. S Mohan Singh Mann who is the president of the committee running affairs went to India and his brother who is resident of San Jose was also there. The well known recent president award winner for honest service Deputy Commissioner of Nawan Shahr inaugurated the camp. We were joined by local physicians .The camp ran very smoothly and were able to get out in time. Some glucose strips that we were left with along with some medications were donated to the hospital at the end of the camp. All those needing eye surgeries had their surgeries and been seen in follow up visit. Next day was our flight back home. Mohit Singh and his Mother from Vancouver, JJ Nicholas and Joe Parks from VA Martinez played a great role and were so full of energy all the times .By the grace of God None of us fell sick during this time due to boiled/bottled water and tea and carefully chosen food. We owe it to the whole team for such great work and especially all those local people who helped in organizing and making sure things get done. We really appreciate the people who donated for our causes and helped us in raising funds. Rough estimates are each day camp cost us about 2 lakh plus the eye surgeries which we will know next month when we get the bill for the expenditure on eye surgeries. This would not be possible without support of people from USA and Canada. All those who volunteered and went to India paid their own fairs and picked up the tabs for Car/taxi’s, food and shelter.

October 4 & 5 , 2006

Oct first was off day with eye surgeries and on 2nd I went with JJ Nicholas to Agra and came back in 24 hours to be ready for the next camp on 4th and 5th at Chinaur in Dist Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. This is a very remote area and about 4 hours drive form Ludhiana. This is where it all started 17 years ago and has been having camp every year for eyes held by Dr. Rajinder Singh. This is very well organized due to the fact the team here has been in place for 17 years and they know what it takes to do a good job. No special requests or favors and just seva is the goal. The medical camp was introduced last year and here you see real poverty and need for care and appreciation of what we do. According to JJ who has been the joint doctor all along he enjoyed the best at this place. More than one thousand patients seen in orderly fashion in two days starting second day at 8am. Two patients who had very high blood sugars were given glucometer and strips to help in management. Those needing eye surgeries had their surgeries a week later and Dr. Rajinder Singh went to see them for follow up last week.

September 30 , 2006

Fifth camp on 30thsept was held in the Surrowal / Sakhowal area in Gurdaspur district where Dr. Upninderjit Singh Harrad ( Dr. Jogi) belongs to. Dr. Jogi’s family and friends played a great role in organizing this camp. Close to two thousand patients showed up here .The highlight of the camp was a girl in early 20’s with insulin dependant diabetes and they had very little knowledge about the care and we had to get her blood sugars under control and provided her with glucometer and strips to manage her diabetes. It took last two hours of marathon involving Dr. Jogi practicing medicine instead of psychiatry and two local doctors to see all these patients. All the eye surgeries from this camp has been done.

September 29 , 2006

Fourth camp was also a last minute change and held at village Chinna Bidhi Chand which is a village at the Pakistani border in Dist. Amritsar. It was the least organized and least satisfying. We had to find rooms in homes to adjust and set up in the open space given that it was a hot day. As usually is with political events people are promised so many things, raising the expectations .We tried our best under the circumstances and saw all those patients which ever way we could .This learning experience will make us think of our strategy for future camps in such circumstances .

September 27 & 28 , 2006

Third in the series was camp at Kishan Garh Channa near Raikot. This camp was sponsored by S. Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal and Family from Abotsford, Canada along with other NRI’s from that village and it was very smoothly run and well organized camp. Looking at the numbers on the second day camp had to be started at 7am. The highlight of this camp was a 24 yr old girl who looked like a teenager and very slim and grim story. Both parents died of some form of cancer in early 40’s and very meager resources for care. She has been suffering with various illnesses and been treated at different places and unable to continue that as no money for care. We have assured her of help and local Physician will perform the needed surgery for her and also her nephew she is caring for after being abandoned by his parents. Local MLA from this area visited the site on second day and was impressed by the work and dedication of the team despite the heat. This camp alone logged in nearly hundred cataract surgeries. Since the first camp at Zira the word had gotten out so people from other areas also came to get help and examination.

September 24 , 2006

Second camp was held on 24th Sept at the village Talwandi Khurd ( Dham) and it was one day camp. There were nearly 1500 people registered by noon for this and we were in for rude awakening and despite our whole team and one pediatrician and local doctor it would be impossible task so we stopped any more registration and had to screen people. We have to admire the public who knowing it will be late to their turn still patiently waited to be seen though some times they hackled with each other who was first. The highlight of this camp was a teenage girl having problem of early greying of her hair (Blond) and degree of depression and hypertension. The lunger was served by the Dera of Sant Bhurriwale along with water and tea for all those who came to get help at this medical camp.

September 22, 23, and 25, 2006

First medical camp was organized at very short notice at Paradise Public school n Zira ( Ferozpur). This was so well received that the camp had to be extended by another day to total three days. People waited patiently for their turn all day long and we got great help from the school staff and students who kept us going with tea and water supplies. Over 1200 patients were examined and treated as deemed necessary. People came from far off places to have a free exam and get some medication and advise. Highlight of this camp was such high prevalence of anemia and allergic rhinitis in young adults. All the Sarpanch’s and chairmen from local areas came to the site and helped in organizing this camp. Part of our team from Canada was not their but we managed to get some help from CMO office at ferozpur with a pediatrician and dentist.

 

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