June 12th 2016
Dadeldhura which lies in the Far Western region is seldom visited by the tourists. Thus the district is entirely rural and is yet to be modernized. It was a privilege for us to be the first ones to conduct a heart camp in there on 12th and 13th of June, 2016. Sub-Regional Hospital was the apt location for the camp, as the hospital would receive patients from all over Far Western Region. Hence, allowing us to screen and identify patients from eight districts at once.
Usually in our camps, the patients would avail free consultation from the experts and ECHO, ECG services. But, there was a different charm this time. Sub-Regional Hospital expressed their plans of providing X-Ray, Ultrasound and Blood Identification and drugs free for 2 days. This took us all by surprise as most of the hospitals; do not take such a huge step for a camp! Identifying cardiac cases got a lot easier through this generous gesture.
Through our previous camps, the maximum number of patients referred to MCVTC was 45 while 79 have been referred from Dadeldhura for immediate surgery. By the end of the second day, 1300 patients registered for the camp amongst which 60% belonged to the cardiac cases category. This calls for a major and immediate attention! To add to this already existing issue, majority of the patients belonging to the cardiac cases category fell under the age of 25yrs. Thus we can conclude that our future generations need much more attention, awareness and lifestyle modification.
Apart from the cardiac cases, other issues such as psychiatric, epigastric, cough, COPD, orthopedic was also addressed. JMT staffs were pleased to find patients INR test being conducted by the machine donated by Jayanti Memorial Trust. Some of these cases were also referred to Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadi and Kohalpur Medical College, Kohalpur.
This camp is by far the most effective and successful in terms of screening, counselling, coordination, advertisement and volunteers. It would not have been possible without the Technical assistance provided by Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center (MCVTC) headed by our very own board member, Prof. Dr. Bhagawan Koirala, our local partner and coordinator Rural Women’s Development and Unity Center (RUWDUC) and Quest Pharmaceuticals for distributing the drugs for free to 492 patients.
