Eye clinic charity in India - VRI Health Care Fund - Progress
health camp held in October 2011
eye examination at the clinic
cataract patients at December 2008 eye camp
cataract patient supported by friends
the shell of the clinic is completed
building work starts
Progress in year 2011-12
October 2011: Health Camp
A free Health Camp was held at the Amarpurkashi Health centre on the 9th October 2011, courtesy of private doctors from Moradabad. 384 patients came from 30 local villages. The doctors included three gynaecologists and a specialist in children’s illnesses.
Three days’ medicine was given to every patient according to the advice of the doctor who examined them and they were told that, if they had any further problems, they could go to the doctor’s clinic in Moradabad where they would be treated for free.
November 2011: Eye Camp
From 10th to 14th November 2011, a free eye camp, funded by an individual VRI donor, was held at the Amarpurkashi Health Centre with the help of the Government District Eye Hospital, Moradabad.
354 patients were examined for various eye problems. Of these, 33 were identified for cataract operations to be done on 11th November. Unfortunately, there was a strike of technical staff that day. However, 26 cataract operations were successfully carried out at the Government Hospital, Bilari on 14th. The other 7 patients could not be operated on as they had other problems that made them unsuitable.
The cataract patients spent some time at Amarpurkashi convalescing and then were checked and 12 days’ medicine given to them. They returned to Amarpurkashi on 27th for another check-up. No problems were found. They were told to return once more three weeks’ later for a final check.
These patients came from 18 villages, some of them 35 km away. Four women came on their own without any assisting friend or relative.
Progress in year 2010-11
November 2010: Eye Camp
The annual free eye camp started at the Health Centre in Amarpurkashi on the 10th November when 450 patients were examined. A team of experts came from Sunder Lal Rotary Club Hospital, Chandausi and identified a record number of 138 patients for cataract operations. However, only 71 of these registered for the operation. Three of them had medical conditions which made them unsuitable for operation.
On 11th and 12th, 68 were successfully operated on in the hospital in Chandausi and given plenty of post-op medication and glasses to keep their eyes safe from dust and sun. Our volunteers and workers from the hospital looked after them for three days. Our APK team provided specially prescribed food free of charge. Patients were re-examined in the hospital on the 20th and again at the health centre in APK on 4th December.
December 2010: Health Camp
On 4th Dec. 2010, we held a free camp at the APK Health Centre, in co-operation with the Rotary Club Hospital in Chandausi. 75 patients were treated for dental problems and 125 for eye ailments. The total cost of the camp, including free medicines given to patients, was £218.April 2011: Health Camp
On 17th April 2011, another Health Camp was held at the APK Health Centre, in co-operation with Teerthankar Mahaveer University, Moradabad. Seven staff came from the university and examined 363 patients (193 women and 170 men). The majority had eye problems but other ailments included nose, throat and eye, breathing, dental and general problems specific to women and children. Two days’ medicine was given free to all patients and the university announced a reduction of 20% in fees for all patients who went for further treatment to any medical college of the university. This camp was funded by a donation from the Asian Foundation for Help through our former volunteer, Dial Sharma.Progress in year 2009-10
November 2009: Eye Camp
A free eye camp was held from 8th to 12th November with eye specialists from the government eye hospital in Moradabad. 190 men and 120 women from neighbouring villages came to have their eyes examined. Of these, 17 men and 14 women were taken to the community hospital in Bilari to be operated on for cataracts. Staff and volunteers from Amarpurkashi supported them during their hospital stay and assisted in their convalescence on their return to Amarpurkashi.
December 2009: Health Camps
On 10th December, a free health camp was held at the new Amarpurkashi health clinic. Among the doctors who came from the Kothiwal Dental and Medical College, Moradabad were general physicians, eye specialists and dentists. 57 women and 63 men came to be examined.
On 26th December, another such camp was held. 49 women and 58 men attended.
Progress in year 2008-9
A further £2,625 was sent to India in July 2008 to furnish the clinic, buy some basic equipment, fund the first eye camp and health camp, and pay the wages of a member of staff to look after the clinic. Electricity has been fitted to the rooms and fans and lights installed.
Progress with the clinic July 2008 - June 2009
The building of the new clinic is now complete. A laboratory technician and a cleaner have been appointed. Two blood pressure machines, one stethoscope, two weighing machines, one sugar monitor, a nebuliser and some furniture have been bought.
We are now in touch with qualified, experienced doctors from the nearby towns and negotiating with them to give one day a month to the clinic.
Eye camp held December 2008
On 7th December, 530 people from Amarpurkashi and the surrounding villages came to the new clinic to have their eyes examined. An eye doctor and his team were sent from the government eye hospital in Moradabad to examine patients. Free medicines were distributed and 39 villagers identified for cataract operations.
29 patients (17 women and 12 men) subsequently turned up for the operation Because of stringent new regulations, we could not have the operations done in our health clinic so patients were taken to Bilari Community Hospital where our staff and graduate students looked after them both before and after the operation. The project provided food and transport. The transplantation of new lenses was successful in all cases.
A few months ago, there was a rash of post-operative disasters in some government eye hospitals and as a result, rules and regulations were tightened. This means that free eye camps now cost more than double what they used to. However, we naturally want the best for patients and will continue to offer these eye camps whenever funds are available.
Free health camp for women - April 2009
On Sunday 19th April, six lady doctors and consultants came from the Moradabad branch of FOGSI (Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology India) to talk to local village women and give free advice and examinations. They were: Dr Nina Mohan, Dr Usha Singh, Dr Ritu Khanna, Dr Shashi Mohan, Dr Uma Varthwal and Dr Usha Tandon.
Although the weather on the day was very hot with strong dusty winds, 75 women from 6 nearby villages ( Amarpurkashi, Shah Pur, Safeel Pur, Shamas Pur, Deori and Vijai Pur) took advantage of this opportunity. The camp was so successful that the doctors have offered to make it a regular event.
Progress in year 2007-8
In July 2007, £3990 was transferred to India so that construction could start. By November 2007, three rooms, two bathrooms and three toilets had been built. The gate, boundary wall, septic tank and water tank were fitted. Construction costs unfortunately exceeded the original budget (of £6,000 for construction plus equipment), and so building work had to be suspended for a few weeks.
Happily, a further £3,226 was raised between September 2007 and January 2008 and transferred to India in January 2008. The building of the new clinic was completed. Doors and windows were fitted, the walls part-tiled and stone flooring laid.