Helping for Health

 

On the 23^rd of December, 2011 the students of IBDP 11 and 12 organised a medical camp for the whole day at the Khajaguda government school for the residents of the locality. We collaborated with five doctors from the Apollo Hospitals including one paediatrician, one dentist, one ophthalmologist and two general physicians, besides three nurses.

There were 250 patients from the village area who visited for general check-ups as well as specific health issues between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Around 100 students of the Khajaguda Govt. School also got free Eye and dental Check-ups. The IBDP students engaged in various activities to help the doctors and make their jobs easier. We helped fill out forms, guide the patients and even helped pacify them. The students of the government school were also invited for a check up.

It was very interesting to meet different kinds of people and to learn more about their lives. After each check-up, the doctors prescribed certain medicines which were given to the patients for free. However, this prescription lasted only for 2 days so it was sad to learn that most of patients couldn’t afford to buy even these basic medicines.

We met a man who needed eye surgery, a girl who had a hole in her heart and diabetics who could not purchase any form of insulin. These interactions had a very profound effect on us and drove us to help theses patients in any way we can. Overall, this camp was a very unique experience and we hope to conduct more such activities in the future.

We want to sincerely thank the Apollo Group of Hospitals, for providing the free service of the dedicated team of doctors and Dr. Reddy labs for sponsoring some of the medicines.

We are also very grateful to Capt. Rohit Sen Bajaj, Principal, Oakridge International School, Newton Campus for his encouragement, Mr. Biju Baby, DP Coordinator for his guidance and Col. Ravindranath (Bursar) for his support.

A special word of appreciation for Dr. Nazia, the School Doctor and her team of nurses, who also provided help at the Camp.

Palashika Bhatt

IBDP XI