Free Eye Screening Camp by VK Arun Jyoti

 

Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti Arunachal Pradesh organized a free eye screening camp at Wakro CHC, Lohit district from 1^st June to 3^rd June 2022. Dr. Udayan Dixit, a highly experienced Ophthalmologist from Pune, Maharastra came voluntarily to render his valuable services. A total of 154 patients were screened during the camp for various eye ailments. Patients from all the villages of Wakro circle including the remote villages came to avail of the benefit. 28 patients were found with cataracts and they will be operated on soon. 110 pairs of spectacles were distributed free of cost. Eye medicines were given to patients.

Earlier on 1^st June, the camp was inaugurated by Sri Tamo Riba, EAC, Wakro. In his inaugural speech, he lauded the efforts of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti in the field of primary health care in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh and assured all possible help for such venture in the future also. This is to be mentioned that Dr. Dixit had visited Arunachal Pradesh earlier and he conducted such camps in Khonsa and Longding with Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti in 2019 and 2020.    

Free Mega Medical Camp at Riga village

The Swasthya Seva Manch (Health Service Forum) of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti, Arunachal Pradesh organized a Mega Free Medical Camp at Riga village of Siang district on 14^th and 15^th December 2021. On 14^th December, the camp was formally inaugurated by Honorable MLA, Sri Ojing Tasing. The District Medical Officer of Siang District, Extra Assistant Commissioner of Riga and Zilla Parishad Member of Riga were also present during the inauguration. Along with the regular Doctor of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti, the following Doctors participated in the camp-

1.      Dr. Tunu Taki( Physician)

2.      Dr.Kaling Tatin(Pediatrician)

3.      Dr. Tiyang Taga (Orthopedic Surgeon)

4.      Dr. Genom Panggang(ENT Surgeon)

5.      Dr. Freeda Tamut(Physician)

The medical team treated 367 patients and free medicines were provided to the patients. Many patients from nearby villages also attended the camp. The local youths and women self help groups of Riga village extended their support to the medical team to make the camp a successful one. The Peging welfare association arranged the accommodation of the medical team.   

MISSION SHAKTI: An Updated Report

Vivekananda Kendra Swasthya Seva Sadan, Laipuli, Tinsukia, Assam and Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti, Arunachal Pradesh in association with India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), USA started an anaemia detection and eradication program, MISSION SHAKTI for women in 16 villages in Tinsukia district of Assam and Changlang , Tirap and Namsai districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The program was launched on 1^st January 2021. Our team conducted 16 camps and examined 1381 women. 716 women (12 yrs to 45 yrs) were screened for Anaemia and 206 women were found as acutely anaemic by March 2021. Almost 30% women were found as acute anaemic. Counselling of anaemic women were done and they were informed about their iron deficiency and were advised to consume iron rich locally available food like dark green leafy vegetables , banana flower etc.  All anaemic women were provided with Iron Folic Acid supplements. Initially, we provided them supplements for three months. After three months, second round of Haemoglobin estimation will be done to see the impact. We have already done the second round of screening in one village and it was found that the haemoglobin level has been substantially increased in all the four anaemic women of that village.

It is a research work as we are working in various ethnic groups of Tinsukia district and Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The communities included are tea tribes, Tangsa, Ahom, Missing, Sonowal Kachari, Motok and Hindi speaking migrants. As per the present data available with us, it is found that in Missing community, anaemia is more prevalent as we found nearly 60% women are anaemic. So, we are planning to include a few more Missing villages in the second phase. Along with conducting medical camps, we are studying the food habits of various ethnic groups, their life styles, their way of growing nutritious vegetables etc. to find a holistic solution to eradicate anaemia.      

Universal Brotherhood Day Program at Tinsukia

Universal Brotherhood Day was celebrated on 11^th September 2020 by Vivekananda Kendra Medical Centre, Laipuli, Tinsukia and Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti, Arunachal Pradesh at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Laipuli, Tinsukia, Assam. The program started with Three Omkara and Santi Path. Sada Vivekanandamayam song was presented by Kum. Purnima. Dr. Debashis Dey Adhikary explained about the significance of the day. He even mentioned about the completion of 50 years of Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari. Sri Guru Charan Das, Principal, VKV, Laipuli shared the details about Universal Brotherhood Day. Then various points mentioned in the letter sent by Ma. Nivedita Didi from Kanyakumari was discussed and Sri Sagar Lad initiated it. Then we discussed various VK activities of our projects during pandemic. DR.B.Roy, Sri Guru Charan Das, Kum. Purnima and Gagan Majumder shared their experiences about medical, academic and relief works during this extra ordinary situation.

Sri Ram Gopal Agarwalla and Sri Samiran Bose, both are members of our Vidyalaya Management Committee also present during the program. A total 18 people participated and physical distancing and other Covid 19 protocols were strictly maintained during the program. The program was concluded with Santi Mantra.

Basic Health Camps and Ration distribution by Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti

Due to the current Covid 19 situation and travel restrictions, the Mobile Medical Unit of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti had to suspend its regular medical activities in Arunachal Pradesh from last three months. As monsoon has already started, seasonal diseases like flu, fever, common cold, diarrhea, dysentery and fungal infections of skin are rising.  To respond this situation, our Swasthya Seva Manch team decided to conduct a few basic health camps in some remote villages of Kantang and Khimiyong circles of Changlang district. We sent some basic medicines to them and four villages were selected for camps. Our Health Workers, Sri Holang Wangrey, Sri Thampu Tangha, Sri Thungsam Tangha and Sri Repu Rekhung conducted four camps at Chingsa, Sohelaktong, Yanman and Makantong from 9^th to 12^th July. Heavy rainfall and landslide in some places made their task very difficult but they successfully reached to all the villages and conducted the camps. A total 180 villagers were treated during the camps. To give maximum benefits to the villagers, out team had done tele consultation for the first time. Through video calling, our health workers contacted our Doctor and he advised what medicines should be prescribed to patients, who were seriously ill. . It was a new experience for the team. Along with the basic health camp our team educated the villagers about the outbreak of Corona virus and preventive measures .Similarly the Health Worker team of Wakka circle of Longding districts is also conducting basic health camps in their areas. Few weeks back, we sent some basic medicines to Lazu circle also and our team conducted such camps at Pongkong, Longliang and Lazu villages.

Meanwhile, under our Project Poshan (A nutritional Initiative by Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti and IDRF, USA) program, like previous month, our team distributed 5 k.g. rice to 510 children in the month of June 2020. The beneficiaries were from Pongkong, Longliang, Raho and Lazu villages of Tirap district and Khanu and Wakka villages of Longding district. This occasion, our team called the parents and handed over the rice bag to their hands.

 We received the information that 31 families of Sanliam village of Lazu circle are in great difficulty because of current situation and our team distributed 5 k.g. of rice to every family. Sri Jenlong Sapong of Lazu area and Sri Saikhang Sir of Wakka area took the whole responsibility for smooth distribution of rice. All the Karyakartas were involved.       

Guru Purmina observation by VK Medical Centre, Tinsukia

The Vivekananda Kendra Medical Centre, Laipuli, Tinsukia observed Guru Purnima on 5^th July 2020. The program was attended by the Karyakartas of VK Medical Centre, VK Arun Jyoti and Principal of VKV, Tinsukia. Total participants were 12. Because of current covid 19 situation, physical distancing was maintained during the program.

The program started with Three Omkar and Guru Stotra and followed by Guru Bhajan. Dr. Debashis Dey Adhikary explained the significance of Guru Purnima and why Vivekananda Kendra worshipped Omkar as our GURU. Sri Surendra Kulkarni read out the latter of Ma. Nivedita Bhide Didi about Guru Purnima. Sri Guru Charan Das, Principal, VKV, Tinsukia enlightened the members about the Guru parampara of Bharat. After the discussion, meditation was done for few minutes and finally the program was concluded with Kendra Prarthana. 

Free Eye Screening Camp in Longding District

Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti Arunachal Pradesh conducted a free eye screening camp at Longding district in association with Longding District Administration and VKV Alumni Association, Longding Unit from 27^th February to 1^st March 2020. The camp was held at CHC, Longding from 27^th to 29^th February and at VK Vocational Training Centre, Wakka on 1^st March. During this four day camp, 227 eye patients from most of the remote villages of Longding district were examined by Dr. Udayan Dixit, a renowned Ophthalmologist from Pune for various eye diseases. More than 125 pairs of spectacles were distributed free of cost. A total 12 patients were diagnosed with cataracts. The rest were treated with eye medicines. A few patients were referred to higher centers.  

     The camp was formally inaugurated by Chesta Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Longding on 27^th February.During her brief speech, she appreciated the initiative of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti in the field of rural health services and assured all possible help in future also. The Doctor and his team were felicitated and Dr.Wangnai Wangsu ,MO i/c introduced the team. Dr. Udayan Dixit praised the efforts put in by VKAJ for the camp arrangement and shown his willingness to come again to this remote part of our country to serve the poor and needy.

The camp was very successful as Dr.Dixit bought some special equipment to examine eyes of the patients. It is heartening to know that he purchased a portable auto refractometer for our outreach camps. With the help of this new machine, he could examine more patients per camp with cent percent accuracy.