Redux: Another Successful Health Camp in Krishnagiri, India

Last year, I had a great experience organizing and conducting a free health camp at my grandfather’s rural village in southern India. This year, I had the wonderful opportunity of returning back to Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu to conduct a second annual health camp. On March 21, representing my grandfather’s philanthropic organization, JAYES Foundation, I collaborated with Anusham Hospitals to conduct the camp. Like last time, over 40 adult patients from villages near Krishnagiri came to check their vitals and seek medical advice. After consultation with the doctor, they were given free medications and referrals to specialty doctors in the area as needed. Additionally, an on-site physical therapist provided services for patients as needed.

I had the chance to participate in additional tasks for the camp including taking vitals, distributing medications, administering B12 injections, and scribing for the doctor on site. It was a joy to see new and familiar faces at the camp, which I helped organize for a community who cannot afford regular medical care or medications. 

I noticed that the patients who attended the camp this year had similar complaints as patients who came last year. 

Here are my observations and takeaways from my experience at this year’s health camp:

1. Many patients came in with severe joint pain, mostly in the cervical spine, back, knee, and hips due to work on the farm, doing manual labor such as crouching to tend crops all day in the hot sun and carrying heavy loads on their heads and backs. One patient had severe back pain and bursitis in the left popliteal area, a possible burst of the bursa as there was immense pain and swelling in the area. The patient was given pain medications to reduce inflammation, along with Calcium (CA) and Vitamin D. Furthermore, the patient stayed for physical therapy as suggested by the doctor.

2. The patient population consisted mostly of elders with poor nutrition, aching joints, or experiencing menopause. The doctor prescribed CA, Vitamin D, and B12 for these patients.

3. Most of the patients got their vitals checked for the first time. Due to lifestyle factors, patients had blood sugar over 150 (possible diabetes) and blood pressure over 130/85 (possible hypertension). They were unaware that these numbers were elevated.

4. This population avoids medical treatment until minor symptoms turn into major medical problems, which could have been caught early and easily avoided with proper medical care. Then, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the diagnoses. One patient came in with an enlarged thyroid nodule, and the doctor recommended an ultrasound, but the patient refused because the nodule was not causing her any issues or pain. Another patient who had experienced a stroke 5 years ago and is still recovering, had ignored the symptoms (headache, dizziness, etc.) and only came in when the stroke happened.

Through organizing and participating in this medical camp 2 years in a row, I have noticed a common pattern of avoidance of medical care because of a lack of trust in the system or low income of the population. Patients in this community are used to doctors seeing them for a few quick minutes and moving on. Hence, free health camps like these are important where the doctor spends at least 15 minutes with each patient to ensure they receive thorough and quality care, while educating them on healthy lifestyle practices.

I look forward to continuing this health camp regularly to empower the underserved village community by providing free medical care and resources. I aim to expand these camps to other village communities and expand our team with more volunteers in order to include more like-minded individuals to help reach additional underserved populations in need of thorough, quality healthcare and an introduction to lifestyle medicine practices.