Chamba Medical Camp

A Medical Camp organised by Himgiri  Kalyan Ashram, as it is known as in Himachal Pradesh, at Pangi district near Chamba on 1st, 2nd & 3rd September '12. This was the 1st Camp at this venue. It was started by the girls from Saraswati School by lighting a deepak as well chanting there ritualistic slogans. It was followed up by a cultural event displayed by the girls which was so beautiful that all of them were in awe of them. Even they were dressed up in there cultural attire form Milad Valley. The food they served was a very delectable treat. Moreover interactions with the girls was an enriching experience for all of us.Some facts about the venue - This is a little unapproachable area because for 6 to 7 months its totally covered under snow. Its situated near the Chandra Bhaga river. And its more beautiful than the Rohtang Pass. Kalyan Ashram is planning to initiate a prospect of befitting this place with better inroad facility. A group of more than 5 doctors with there respected specialisations came. More than 877 patients were treated starting from the age group of 9 to 90.

12th Medical Camp

One participant of this Medical Camp shares his experience :

   

Saturday morning, 1st Jan, about 50 people began their journey from CITY OF JOY to the CITY OF UNTOUCHED LIFE.  We had a delicious breakfast made by the tribal ladies & girls in a small park where all the kids were playing and the men were busy discussing the schedule. We finally reached CHUNAKHALI, where all the villagers were eagerly waiting for our arrival & then they all escorted us with mixed faces, some smiling, some no reaction. We quickly made all the preparations and started the Medical Camp in the 1^st campsite. It was very hot and sunny which didn't help us at all and the number of patients also kept rising. There was a park just behind the campsite building where the kids played, fought and what not. We all worked together as a unit and did a wonderful job checking them, giving them medicines, entertaining them (it was real fun) and interacting with them. Finally this 1st day Medical Camp came to an end. We all left for an ashram where we put up at night. I must say people out there are so supportive, that they happily agreed to our minimal demands. We had a sumptuous food that night accompanied by a small bonfire. It set the mood. Tired and a little bored, eventually, dreamy world got the better of us.

Sunday, 2nd Jan, we quickly refreshed ourselves in places out of our comfort zone and then had our breakfast which was nice and left for the 2nd campsite.

SONAKHALI, the place was small but still it managed to gather lots of people from distant places some walking 5-6 miles. It was a bit breezy and little less sunny. We quickly got into the act of gearing up and serving the people. We almost had 425 patients from various religions - hindu, muslim, sikh, isai. We cater to all sects of people. The people are so loving and caring that we almost feel at home. I learned a little bit of Bengali, for eg. AASHBEN, PAABEN, JAABEN and apart from that we had a nice lunch. After doing a splendid job, the 2nd day Medical Camp came to an end. We had a yummy food that night and everyone gelled with each other, which was so good to watch.

Next day, early in the morning, we headed towards SUNDERBANS, for which most of us came. We had a super time with the gang. It was so much fun. Beautiful place, it was. We missed the tiger by we got to see deer, turtle, monkeys especially ( no connections, lol) etc. Our launch got stuck in the middle of the water it was so hilarious for some of us (one kid started crying though). Then we hurried up and quickly reached the ashram where we were put up at night and left for KOLKATA. It started and ended in no time. We all had a time of our life. PURVANCHAL KALYAN ASHRAM rocks  :)

  Parth Rastogi, 18.

Pics - 12th Medical Camp

Camp details : 

Date - 1st n 2nd Jan, 2011.

Camp location - Chunakhali n Sonakhali villages, in Sunderbans area, around 100 kms south of Kolkata, W.B.

Participants - Doctors, Medical Assistants, Yoga  experts, P.K.A. local team and volunteers from Kolkata.

Patients - Vanvasis from nearby villages suffering from eye diseases, skin ailments, viral fever, worms, anemia, vitamin deficiency, mineral deficiency, malnutrition etc.  

Treatment - consultation with doctors; measurement - BP, Pulse; administration of medicines; yoga guidance - all against a token amount of Rs.10/- per patient.

 

11th MEDICAL CAMP ~ Pics

Camp held on 21st & 22nd August 

21st - Basia tribal village near Nachan Barrage, Durgapur

22nd - Khandari Danga tribal village near Chandipur off Burdwan Panagarh Road

Tribal patients treated - about 700 in 2 days

Common symptoms - Malaria, Fever, Stomach disorder, Skin ailments, Amenia, Vitamin deficiency, Eye weakness etc.

Team - 4-5, doctors, 2 medical assistants, 2 yoga experts, 2 eye specialists, about 20 volunteers incl youth n children.

10th MEDICAL CAMP - PICS

 Date - 13th June, 2010.
Venue - Tribal villages near Panagarh, Barddhwan dist.

                                       

10 th Medical Camp on 13th June, 2010

Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram team, Kolkata is arranging the 10th Medical Camp  !

Date : 13th June , same day return.

Location : Khulepara tribal village near Chandipur off Burdwan - Panagarh road, W.B.

Travel : Departure from Ultadanga, Kolkata at 615 am and return at 830pm. by road.

Objective :  Health and Eye checkup, Interaction with doctors, Medication, Yoga instructions, Water Harvesting, Village Development.

Medical Camp details :

• Interaction with vanvasis, traditional welcome by vanvasi, understanding their culture, problems, bridging gap between vanvasi and nagarvasi etc.
• Team incl Doctors, Medical Assistants, Eye Specialist, Yoga experts and Kalyan Ashram volunteers.
• Expected 300-400 patients with malaria, vitamin deficieny. skin diseases, viral fever, stomach disorders, eye problems etc. Special focus on TB.
• Work for volunteers - assisting doctors, managing vanvasi patients, explaining how to take medicines as prescribed by doctors etc
• Water Harvesting : survey land, motivating villagers to construct reservoirs, give instructions, form local team
• Exp ph ( all incl. ) Rs. 500/- ; Optional Camp expenses Rs. 500 /- ( 250/- for youth & children ) 

 You are requested to participate in this camp either by collecting / sponsoring commonly used medicines before 03/06/2010 or going in this camp.

Contact for participation / contribution / detailed brochure - nirmal@hcsinfo.com or call 9831061925

9th. Medical Camp report

9th Medical Camp: a Tribal welfare, tribal development camp.

Dates : 20&21st Feb, 2010.

Location : Tribal villages in and around Mallarpur, West Bengal.

Camp  details:

• 20-2-10 : Jethia pahari village - 410 vanvasi patients treated
• 21-2-10 : Kastogara village - 500 patients treated
• Team : 3 Doc., 2 Eye spec., 2 Med asst., 2 Yoga experts, 13 Karyakartas
• 2 IIT-K  Phd scholars for Water Harvesting initiatives.

Following services were provided to the vanvasis at no cost :-

• Medicines
• Basic health checkups
• Interaction with doctors
• Spectacles as per specification
• Basic Yoga training from specialist
• A 30ft x 30 ft Water reservoir to be constructed under the guidance of Kalyan Ashram volunteers and 2 IIT-K Phd scholars.

 

 

 Water Harvesting Project being started under the guidance of Kalyan Ashram team with inputs from 2 IIT-K Phd scholars. A 30ft X 30ft water reservoir will be constructed enabling the villagers to grow 2 crops in an year.  :

Report on 8th Medical Camp

Medical and Eye Check up Camp on 19th and 20th Dec 2009 in tribal villages in Birbhum Dist, West Bengal.   

Team - 5 doctors, 3 medical assistants, 3 Yoga teachers, a 9 member team from Shankar Netralaya for eye treatment and 34 volunteers including 6 Kalyan ashram karyakarta, family members, sahayogies and  kids.

Equipments & medicines -16 cartoons of medicines partly donated and partly purchased at very good discount. sets of BP instruments, weighing machines, a Mobile Eye Care Vehicle sent by Sankar Netralaya fitted with generator, eye testing equipments, Spectacle frames and lenses and an equipment for producing tailor-made spectacles on the spot.

Highlights :

• Day - I : 585 patients were provided with various kind medical treatment at the camp. For many of the patients this was first experience with doctors. 
• Day - II : Treatment provided to 470 patients. 
• Low weight (32-40 Kg) due to malnutrition was evident everywhere. 
• Eye department checked about 150 patients and provided on spot spectacles to 35; other persons needing glasses will be sent spectacles in about one month. 
• Cataract and other Eye related surgery was scheduled on 30^th Dec at  Shankar Netralay for the patients diagnosed with such ailments.
• Visit to Tarapith for darshan.
  

Special thanks to Mr B P Jalan (Chairman of advisory committee of Shankar Netralaya, Kolkata) for participating in camp activities along with his family members for full duration of the camp and sponsoring about 170 spectacles to the tribal brethren.

Special observations :
(1)  In absence of water only one crop can be harvested and that to on part of the land owned by villagers.
(2) Most of the families get job for avg of 50-100 days during the year.

(3) An total annual income of only 2000/- to 8000/-.
(4) Decided that Kalyan ashram will provide villagers with guidance and assistance in preparation of water reservoir in part of their land and plant trees around it to harvest water.

 

 

 

7th Medical Camp in Raigunj dist., West Bengal

These are pictures of the 7th Medical Camp held on 2nd and 3rd October in Raigunj and Harirampur blocks in North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts, respectively in West Bengal. The camp was very successful as around 1300 vanvasi patients were treated with free checkups and medicines in two days.

Highlights of the camp :

@ 6 doctors and 6 yoga teachers from Kolkata, Siliguri and Dinajpur participated in the two day camp. They were supported by around 40 volunteers including 15 youths from Kolkata, Siliguri and Dinajpur. 100 local volunteers also participated.

@ Roughly 1300 vanvasi patients ( 754 on the 1st day and 540 on the 2nd day ) were provided with free medical checkups and medicines.

@ On spot blood grouping test and ECG was conducted on 2nd day, in Harirampur.

@ 12 cartons of medicines worth Rs. 2 lacs were distributed free of cost among the vanvasi, which were either purchased or donated by various contributors of the camp.

@ Around 500 patients suffering from chronic illness were provided with yoga and pranayam training from trainers trained at Ramdev Ji's ashram.

@ 212 patients with eye sight problems will be sent spectacles with appropriate power, free of cost.







Yoga teacher teaching ' praanayam' to the vanvasis.