A need-based health camp was organized in the Bageshwardistrict of Kumaun region — 120 km from the Charitable Hospital.
The purpose of this camp was to provide medical facilities in the remotest areas in the Bageshwar district. The selection of the location and the camp site was decided by an understanding between the Charitable Hospital and the Ajeevika Project (Himalayan Livelihood Project) of Uttarnachal. This project also made possible collaborative work with five other major NGOs of the Kumaun region. The Hospital provided medical services in three areas of general medicine, dental treatment and eye treatment. The concerned NGOs provided the entire infra-structure for the success of the health camp. In the map Ranikhet and Bageshwar can be identified.
Selection of the health camp site
Selection of the site for the health camp was a result of a base line survey done by the NGOs.
These places, far from the main city, are in remote areas of the Bageshwar district. A total of 6 places were selected as centers for holding the health camps. These 6 centers covered approximately 120 villages of the district.
Centers and distance from Bageshwar-
Devaldhar 22 Km, Simkuna 40 Km, Khatigaon 70 Km by road and 6 Km by hill track, Munar 40 Km, Bhanar 35 Km, Syakot 70 Km.
Involved NGOs-
| 1. |
CHIRAG |
Central Himalayan Rural Action Group |
| 2. |
CHEA |
Central Himalayan Environmental Association |
| 3. |
HOPE |
Himalayan Organization for protecting environment |
| 4. |
KAGAS |
Kumaon Agricultural and Greenery Advancement Society |
| 5. |
BGSM |
Berinag Gram Swaraj Samity |
| 6. |
KASAR trust |
|
Methodology
The camps were duly advertised with dissernintation of information by the staff of the Ajeevika Project and the other NGOs mentioned above. The Haidakhan Charitable Hospital had arranged for all the essential medicaines, equipement for appropriate eye check ups and a dental mobile clinec. The visiting team consisted of a physican, a dental surgeon, optometrist, pharmacist, lab technician, dental hygienist and other support staff. Instead of organizing a medical camp with free distribnution of medicines, in this camp patients were motivated to contribute 50% of the cost of medicines. The other 50% was contributed by the Haidakhan Charitable Hospital.
Results
The entire camp was divided into two phases. In the first phase, a 5 day camp was held from 7th to 11th January 2007 and covered 3 centers of Devaldhar, Simkuna and Khatigaon. In the second phase, a camp was held from 3rd to 7th February 2007, which covered the remaining three centers, i.e., Munar, Bhanar and Syakot.
Devaldhar center- A total of 158 patients were registerd at this center. Of these, 101 patients were treated by the general physician, 36 were examined for eye problems, and 10 were identified with having mature cataract. All the cataract patients were advised to undego surgery. The remaining 21 patients were examined and treated for various dental problems. At this center anemia was found to be the commonest problem in females. In dental cases many of the patients had water related disorders.
Kanda center-
At this center a total of 219 patients were examined. Out of the said number, 104 cases were treated by the general physician, 95 were registered for eye problems, out of which 50 were identified with cataract. In the dental mobile clinic a total of 20 patients were examined and treated. The most common problem in general medicine was Osteo-arthriits and Cataract
in Eye section.
Khatigaon-
This was the most remote center. For the nearly 6 km of hill tracking all the necessary tools and medicines were carried by porters.
…and transported by porters to the remote areas
A total of 279 patients were registered. Of these, 154 were examined and treated by the general physician, 89 by the optometrist and 36 by the dental surgeon. In the eye section, of the 89 patients, a total of 30 were identified for cataract surgery. The common diseases at this center were anemia, STD (sexually transmitted disease) and ENT (ear, nose and throat) related disorders. In dental, as well as in most other cases, there was poor oral hygiene, tobacco related problems and other water related degenerative disorders.
Munar Center-
At this center a total of 211 patients were rergistered. Of these, 97 were examined and treated by the general physician, 74 in the eye section of which 30 were indentified for cataract surgery. In the dental section, a total of 40 patients were examined and treated. The most common problems were GIT (gastrointestinal) related, visual defects, cataract, dental caries and poor oral hygiene.
Bhanar Center-
Total 151 patients were registered. Of these a total of 93 cases were for general medicine, 14 for dental, and 44 for eyes with 10 cases for cataract surgery.
Syakot Center-
A total of 134 patients were registered. A hundred patients were for general tratment, 24 were in dental and 10 had eye problems.
Conclusion-
1. A total of 1,152 patients were examined and treated in the Bageshwar camp. The association with NGOs to organize health camps in remote areas was fairly successful.
2. It might be beneficial to create such like linkages in the future with social organizations, NGOs, spiritual organizations involved in social work, various schools and governement agencies such as the State Bank of India.
3. The scheme of dispensing medicines at half the rates was extemely effective. Almost 57% of the patients bought medicines at the stated half rates,. Nearly 10% poor patients were provided free medicines. Because of the large number of people wishing to buy medicines, it is possible that several were not served. A few patients however were disappointed because of a misunerstanding that all medicines would be provided free of cost.
4.At most of the centers there are already ongoing government hospitals/dispensaries but due to the unavailability of hands-on doctors for a fairly long period, the entire units are run by the ward boys. While vaccination programs are running well in all these areas, all other medical facilities are very poor.
5. Poor communication plays a major role in the unavailability of medical aid at most of the centers.
6. These camps were useful for utilizing hospital staff during the so-called “lean period” of the harsh winter months. During this time there is fewer patient input in the hospital and it is an excellent opportunity for the doctors to give off their time usefully in these backward areas.
7. In short, these camps have gone a long way in increasing the outreach of the hospital and in propagating the kind of services that are available.
