As all of you know, every year we conduct an Eye Camp at the farm with the help of Aravind Eye Hospital Tirunelveli. Like last year, this year also, Indian Roots (Mrs. Trine Epdrup's Team) helped funding the Camp as well. The staff, Magilchi Illam children and Trainees also helped to conduct the Eye Camp. The official propagation work with our vehicle (Bolero) began on the 21st of May 2019, but of course our field staff already started it in the beginning of April. Going through the villages was a lot of fun and very interesting; meeting elders and people who are having problems with their eyes. You could see the hope in the people's faces. We went to almost 90 villages to tell about the Eye Camp. In most of the villages they were waiting for us since April 2019. This year the Camp was delayed because of our country's elections. We stopped in the villages and while one person was announcing the details of the Eye Camp through a microphone and speaker, the others went around the village to give out info leaflets. In some villages we went to the "common place", where the people who are working under the "100 days of work" (work program provided by the government for those who can't find work), were resting. We could meet most of the elders in that place, so we spread the message. On the 30th in the morning, people started to come from 6 am onward by Two-wheelers, autos, buses and small Vans. The medical team consisted of 3 doctors and 20 nurses. The Eye Check-up consisted of several sections, such as counselling sessions, vision tests, sugar tests and eye pressure tests. In the beginning we had some inaugural sessions with the medical team and gave an introduction to the Camp. There were 312 people who attended the Eye Camp. We cooked food for all the people. The Magilchi Illam children and Trainees helped the people to go from one section to the next. 191 people were selected for an eye operation. 6 people didn't get the operation due to diabetes and blood pressure problems. One of the main problems with the elderly people is diabetes and high blood pressure. 191 were taken by buses to Thirunelveli, which is 100 km away from Nagalapuram. 4 of our field staff went with them and stayed at the hospital to help them. As the field staff stayed with them, the people were really happy to have some known people with them. All of the operations were successful and they returned happily to their homes. They will come back to the farm on the 3rd of July for the re-checkup. It was nice to see the happy faces with thankfulness.
0 Comments
|