After our successful ayurveda health camp at Agoda village in august, it was time to organize a cancer screening and health camp at Uttarkashi. In recent years no cancer screening had been done in the area and we felt the neccessity to hold one to not only create awareness about cancer but also to identify any patients who could be helped through our initiatives. We reached out to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center, New Delhi, and Ganga Prem Hospice, Raiwala, once again to organize the camp. It was decided that it would be a two day camp this time. The camps were to be organized in two different locations, one at the District Hospital, and the other in the remote village of Gajoli.
Dates of the Camps
September 15 – 16, 2024.
Participating Doctors, Staff and Agencies
The doctors who participated in the camp came from RGCIRC and Ganga Prem Hospice and one dentist from the District Hospital. The Doctors from RGCIRC included a gyneacologist and a dental surgeon. The General physician came with the team from Ganga Prem Hospice which also included a team of nurses, technicians and support staff.
Mangala Kshema Trust and Kuflon Charitable Trust provided local support by way of transportation, accommodation for the visiting teams from RGCIRC and GPH, as well as medicines and volunteers for the camps.
Day 1: Venue – District Hospital, Uttarkashi.
The camp was held at the District Hospital, Uttarkashi, with the kind permission of the CMO, CMS, and other officials. A total of 146 patients were examined and given free medical check-ups and medicines. Three cancer patients were examined by the doctors and councelling provided as needed. A total of 15 free PAP smear tests were done for the women.
Cancer and female hygiene informational material was distributed to the patients with a view to creating and improving awareness.
Day 2: Venue – Primary School Gajoli, Village Gajoli, Uttarkashi.
The camp was organized in a remote village of Gajoli, which is about 17 kilometers from the main town. The village has road access but lacks a primary health center. The nearest doctor is in Gangori which is about 12 kilometers away. The remoteness of the village and bad road conditions not withstanding, we held a successful camp at the village.
Doctors examined a total of 160 patients. Interestingly, more women than men attended the camp. A total of 14 PAP smears were done and the doctors found one suspected case of oral cancer. The patient was provided councilling and adviced to seek further assistance and treatment.
As in every camp, free checkups were done and the patients were provided with free medicines.
Here too, informational material was distributed to create awareness about cancer and female hygiene. The volunteers explained the importance of early detection of cancer and the symptoms that could indicate cancer. Women were taught to do self breast examinations to look out for any changes or lumps in the breasts.
Camp report
The camp kicked off with a salute to nature and the environment. The visiting Doctors planted trees courtesy Shyam Smriti Van Prayavaran Evam Jankalyan Samiti, Uttarkashi, and its founder, Mr. Pratap Singh Pokhriyal.
Thereafter, patient registrations for the camps started at 9.00 am and ended at 1.00 pm on both days. There were a total of 4 doctors present on the first day and 3 doctors present on the second day. The doctors examined the patients up to 2.00 pm on day 1 and 2.30 pm on day 2.
A total of 307 patients were examined on the two days. Out of this, 3 cancer patients were examined on day 1. These were existing cancer patients, and they were advised to seek further assistance at RGCIRC and GPH. On day 2, one suspected oral cancer case was detected. The male patient was counseled to give up chewing tobacco and seek immediate help at RGCIRC and GPH. He was further advised on getting certain diagnostic tests, which could be done at partner diagnostic labs where the patient could avail a discount on the tests, making them more affordable.
Takeaways from the Two-Day Camp
The two-day camp was very fruitful as we could tap the population of urban areas and a remote village in Uttarkashi. The interaction with the villagers provided valuable insights about the condition of women and children in the village. The women, in particular, were happy that the camp was being held in the village as they could finish their household and agricultural chores and attend the camp as well. This made us realize just how difficult it was for women to seek medical attention. Most waited until it was too late to get a basic check-up done for common diseases.
Another insight we gained was about female hygiene and vaginal infections. Most women were hesitant to undergo a gynecological examination as they were shy. This hesitation was a major hurdle when it came to taking PAP smears. We realized that this was a major area where we needed to educate the women and help them overcome this hurdle.
Overall, we were very satisfied with the outcome of the two camps.
Conclusion
This was the first camp the MKT and KCT had held in two places that were so diverse and provided two such different sets of challenges. Our team, along with the volunteers, rose to the occasion and conducted the two camps smoothly and without any major hiccups.
To know more about our programs, you may contact us at: mangalakshematrust@gmail.com or you can contact us through our website.
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