Weekly Medical Camp at Malakundi Village

July 12, 2015

On Sunday 12th July 2015, Project Give Back Medical Camp organized by the Parmarth Niketan team – Divine Shakti Foundation and Global Interfaith WASH alliance, headed to Mala Kundi. The rural village is 40 km away from Rishikesh and located in a hilly-forest area in the laps of the Himalayas. With a total population of 900 people, their provision of basic supplies nearby is very much limited. Due to the absence of hospitals or medical shops in the village, patients have to travel 40 km to Rishikesh in case of a medical treatment.

The camp was organized by Bhagat Singh and led by Dr Priya and was joined by volunteers Pallavi, Jyoti Ji, Beste from Turkey, and two young interns Swechhya Rajbhandary and Allison Buisor- from Knox College. Since the car could only go up until a certain point because of the road construction, the volunteers had to carry the medical supplies and hike up the hill for half an hour in the rain. Upon reaching the village, the volunteers relished on the incredible view and were welcomed by warm hospitality from the villagers.

There were a total of 39 patients. Due to the heavy rainfall most patients could not make it to the camp, as it is dangerous to hike in the slippery paths. And those who made it were all drenched in the rain. Patients were treated and medicated for problems such as high blood pressure, lower back pain, worms, anemia, skin allergy, ear & eye disease, joint pain, acidity, constipation, common cold and fever, etc.

Two of our volunteers, Allison and Pallavi emphasized the importance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene to the children and their mothers. Moreover, they instructed the correct way of hand washing and brushing their teeth. They also trimmed the children’s nails.

Swechhya took the blood pressure of the patients while Jyoti ji registered the patients by recording their name and age. Beste who is a yoga instructor, taught few exercises and yoga poses to some of the elderly patients according to their diseases. She also massaged and put crepe bandage around patients with joint problems.