Janathe Pada – Children’s Eye Camp
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An eye check-up camp for children was arranged on Sunday, 27th Jan 2013 at village Janathe Pada, Taluka Vikramgadh, District Thane – roughly 145 kms from Mumbai.
Schools in the nearby villages (in the radius of 5-6 km) were informed to register students for this camp. We had roughly 250 students registered before the camp.
The camp had two objectives – primary of eye check-up and secondary of follow-up for general health check-up. Eye camp was managed by two optholmologist (Dr Swapna Shanbhag and Dr Bhagyashree Natu) from Opthalmology department of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. They were supported by supported by two optometrists (Ms Pratiksha and Mr Dheeraj) and sister Sumita Tembe from Team Suhrid. General health check-up was managed by two Team Suhrid physicians (Dr Lipsa Shah and Dr Bimal Shah) from Mumbai.
We examined around 176 patients (children – 150 Adult – 26) as outpatients in the camp.
Disease | Female | Male | Grand Total |
ALLERGIC CONJUCTIVITIES | 0 | 2 | 2 |
CATARACT | 6 | 6 | 12 |
ESOTROPIA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
LE CORNEAL FB | 1 | 0 | 1 |
MYOPIA | 1 | 5 | 6 |
MYOPIA/AMBLYOPIA | 1 | 0 | 1 |
PRESBYOPIA | 6 | 6 | 12 |
PTOSIS | 1 | 0 | 1 |
SYSTOLIC MURMER III/IV | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NORMAL | 50 | 88 | 138 |
Grand Total | 67 | 109 | 176 |
As per the observations from the doctors, the majority of the children have normal vision but very acute malnutrition. Large percentage of them have Vitamin A deficiency. Amongst the elders checked, majority of them needed cataract surgery. Team Suhrid would also make arrangements within few weeks from the camp to support their cataract surgery in the possible capacity. Out of total patients, spectacles are provided to 18 patients free of cost by Suhrid Foundation.
The camp was successfully organized and the response from the villagers was overwhelming. Team Suhrid thanks Optholmology department (M&J Institute) at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for co-sponsoring the camp- for helping with their expert doctors and supplies of medicines. Team of doctors handled the camp, which involved comprehensive eye examination/treatment, advice for future and ample supply of the medicines.
We hope that this kind of camps would help in prevention of blindness by early detection of symptoms, distribution of the medicines, recommendation of surgery and creating awareness amongst the rural masses, whose access to the eye care is almost negligible.
Towards the end of the camp, winter clothes – like sweaters, were distributed amongst children. This was a good relief to children in cold winter of this year.
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