The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Health camps prove to be a boon for the poor patients HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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Friday, Dec 25, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Health camps prove to be a boon for the poor patients HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI: A 11-year-old boy Sailesh (name changed) was diagnosed with a heart defect at a health camp conducted in his slum. With no resources to do anything about treatment, Sailesh had to wait until his heart condition was picked up at another camp. This one was conducted by Ekam, a voluntary organisation that works to “ensure the right to health for every child.” Ekam arranged for the surgery of Sailesh, who is doing well now.

“This case is a classic example of the benefits and the drawbacks of health camps. Unless there is follow up, the immense benefit of a health camp is lost,” says Sai Lakshmi, managing trustee, Ekam. Different kinds of health camps are constantly being conducted by those in private and public sector and NGOs. The question arises if there is a value for such camps.

From a public health point of view, S. Elango, Director of Public Health, says a health camp serves the purpose of making healthcare accessible. “Our Varumun Kappom camps (VKC), for instance, target a population of 5,000 people per camp. If you consider that one PHC serves a population of 20,000 people, the VKC is going literally to the door step.”

Also, at the camps, multiple services are available at a central venue — clinical examination, diagnostic facilities and treatment and referrals. “If there is sufficient awareness, people will come to the camps. They may not go to a PHC, but they will come to a camp in the next village,” he adds.

Beyond a certain age, an annual health check of basic parameters, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cardiac function, is essential, says V.K. Subburaj, Principal Secretary, Health.

But, less than one per cent of the population actually go for such a check-up. This is where the health camps step in.

“These camps serve a great purpose in identifying conditions much before the symptoms occur. When the disease reaches the critical stage, it is difficult to treat,” he says.

Mohan Rajan of Rajan Eye Care says camps not only identify a condition before it manifests clinically, but also saves a lot of time and money for the patient and the government. “The world is moving from curative healthcare to preventive. Health and eye camps are a part of this. With eye care, for instance, we can diagnose glaucoma, refractive vision, cataracts and retinopathy in the early stages. Subsequently, with some lifestyle modifications and minor corrections, we can even avoid onset of the problem or at least push it back by several years,” he explains.

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