Radhanath Swami's Contributions Towards Community Health

Activities of Community Health Center at Bhaktivedanta Hospital for the year 2009-2010

-- From the Desk of Dr. Santosh Choudhari, MD (PSM), Community Head

In our continuous endeavor to give greater thrust for community health initiatives, this department of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital saw new horizons:

• Opened two community health centers in the tribal areas of Hamrapur and Galtare in Wada district. Till now over 1000 patients have been benefited in the last 3 months. Patients needing special investigation and hospitalization are referred to Bhaktivedanta Hospital
• Organized 102 camps in the last year and screened 30142 patients and operated 2631 opthal patients free of cost in and around Thane district
• During our Pandharpur annual Medical camp, 29800 patients were given free medical services for various illnesses like fever, respiratory diseases, gastro intestinal diseases, etc., at our base hospital setup in Pandharpur. About 5000 patients also availed the medical benefit at our Dindi camp
• Children health check up in Municipal Schools continued this year and over 7500 children received the benefit, with the support of N. S. Foundation
• Our Parents Camp (Senior Citizens) were conducted in Thane District with the support of Lions Club of Juhu, and over 2300 senior citizens have been given medical aid
• Camps in Urban slums in and around Mira-Bhayanader for pregnant mothers and malnourished children were conducted
• World Aids day awareness was conducted, with the support of school children. A human chain was formed to create the awareness. Indian Overseas Bank supported us in this project
• Corporate health awareness initiatives in the form of health awareness seminars, blood donation drives and eye check up were conducted

Spreading Cheers at Bhaktivedanta Hospital, year 2008-2009

-- From the Desk of Dr. Santosh Choudhari, MD (PSM), Community Head

Greater thrust is given to the community health initiatives by the hospital as a proactive step for positive health from the year 2008-2009.

• Pandharpur Medical camp (Annual): About 12000 patients who had come for the Ashadi Ekadashi were given free treatment for severe injuries, fever, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, eye infection etc., besides 500 trauma cases
• Children Health Check up project in Municipal schools was carried out to cover 4000 children with the support of N. S. Foundation. The main objective is early diagnosis, treatment and creating health awareness amongst needy children
• Rural Eye Camps in Thane District were conducted twice a week and over 1000 patients were operated free of cost at the hospital
• General Health Camps in Wada and nearby villages were conducted once a week. About 150 patients are screened and medicines are distributed free of cost
• Our Parents Camp (Senior Citizens) was held weekly in Keshav Shrusthi and Morva Gaon in Bhayander
• Health Education Seminars/ workshop/ training on HIV/AIDS in various schools of Mira-Bhayander were conducted frequently (Special thanks to Indian Overseas Bank for their support in this project)
• Adolescent Health Clinic - Free Consultation and Counseling for adolescents regarding their health, puberty changes, nutritional counseling, and life style education were provided to over 300 adolescents
• Celebrations of Breast feeding week, world health day, woman's day were conducted to create health awareness

Excerpts from 'Evening of Terror. Medicine & Spirituality!'

-- A Newspaper Report by Gayathri Ramamujam, Afternoon Despatch & Courier, July 17, 2006

Unlike the other major municipal hospitals that have been in the news for the roles they played in treating the victims of the blasts (Train Bomb Blasts of 11th July 2006), this private hospital with a spiritual base has kept out of the publicity glare, partly because nobody in the city knows of it and mainly because its doctors and staff keep a low profile.

Dr. Girish Rathod, one of the hospital’s orthopedic surgeons who has been on duty since that evening, tells the story. The hospital was warned about the blast in its vicinity at.7 p.m. and told to expect victims soon. It was not given time to think or plan, but only act. Quickly, on an emergency footing, the hospital scrambled together a team of 20 doctors including general, orthopedic and ENT surgeons, along with physicians, anesthetists and others. Around 35 nurses and 50 paramedical personnel from the hospital were also requisitioned. That’s when the victims started pouring in. Dr. Rathod says they came in auto rickshaws, private vehicles and ambulances, severely injured, critical and several close to death. The driveway to the Bhaktivedanta Hospital was a bloody mess in minutes. “We admitted 43 victims, out of which, tragically, 15 succumbed to their horrific injuries the same evening. One more died subsequently. But 11 were treated and discharged for minor injuries the next morning by 10, and two more after that, the rest are with us” said Dr. Rathod.

Of the victims still with the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, on Saturday four were still critical and in the ICU, and ten in the general ward. Most of those who died were from Vasai and Nallasopara. All bodies but two, which were unidentified and sent to Thane’s Civil Hospital, were claimed by next of kin with the help of police. The hospital is naturally proud of its effort! “But we felt helpless and miserable when young boys died before our eyes and we could not save them,” said Dr. Rathod somberly.

He narrated a case. “A well-built, young boy was rushed to the hospital on a wheelchair. At first glance, he didn’t seem to have much injury because his legs, were covered. I heard a man shout, ‘I found my son. He is my son.’ He was pointing to the boy. I congratulated him, telling him his son was in good health compared to some other victims, so he should not worry. That’s when the blood from the boy’s thighs spurted out. He bled profusely and we could not save him.” However, there is reason to cheer as well. Like 20-year-old victim Santosh Yadav. “He had a terrible head injury and his brain was dangling out. But now he is fine. He can move about and even consume food,” said Dr. Vandana Deevan, another of the saviors at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital.