By Tricitynews
Chandigarh 28th Mar, 2019:- In last 21 years Rotary from India has sent more than 500 doctors
to serve in 43 countries, and majority of them had been from Chandigarh and
surrounding areas, informed Rajendra K. Saboo, former world president of Rotary
International here today.
The concept of
intercontinental medical mission was conceived by Rajendra K. Saboo and his
wife Usha Saboo with first mission in 1998 to Uganda, which tremendously
raised the stature of India in the world as a ‘giver’ and not a ‘receiver’ when
teams of super specialists shared their expertise and talent with the patients
in Africa.
A team of 19 doctors
from eight specialties along with Rotarian volunteers had recently returned
from Madagascar, having attended to 3,500 patients in OPDs.
Some of the doctors
from Chandigarh included eye surgeon Dr Nivedita Singh, dermatologist Dr Vanita
Gupta, plastic surgeon, Dr V D Singh, ENT specialist Dr Raman Abrol, general
surgeon Dr. N.S. Sandhu, gynecologist Dr. Nirlep Kaur, and orthopedician Dr. Ravjit
Singh.
In the most trying
situations, 163 eye, 73 general, 36 plastic, 34 ENT, 35 orthopedic, 8
gynecology, and 576 dental surgeries were done. The dermatology
department attended to 1250 patients and distributed free medicines to
them.
Doctors shared their
experience of working in difficult situations with dismal infrastructure
facilities and lack of trained manpower, causing proliferation of congenital
diseases, and many curable but neglected cases of skin diseases, bone
infections, broken bones, hernia, goiter, clubfoot, burn injuries, etc.
Dr Vanita Gupta said
that the country has no trained dermatologist, and skin diseases including
fungus, scabies abounded. Eye surgeon Dr. Nivedita found nonfunctional
equipment in the operation theatre including auto-clave (sterilizer) and then
used pressure cookers to manage the situation.
Dr VD Singh added that
Indian doctors are most respected for their talent, their ability to work in
difficult conditions for long hours and to innovate at the spur of the moment.
Praveen Goyal,
District Governor 3080, who was a part of the team as a volunteer, said that it
moved us to see smiles on the faces of the patient after surgery like the young
8-years old girl who was able to smile because of dental problem.
The team of doctors
included from India included ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, dentists,
maxillofacial surgeons, gynecologists, general surgeons, ENT surgeons, plastic
surgeons, pathologists and anesthesiologists, who also trained local
doctors in newer medical techniques.
R K Saboo said that each
medical specialist not only conducted surgery, dispensed medicines, but more
importantly, trained the local doctors and paramedics in the latest advances in
various medical disciplines.
R K Saboo had also
initiated medical missions in remote corners of India too in 2006 where similarly teams of doctors travelled
to tribal areas and hard-to-reach locations to serve them. So far 14
such medical missions in India have been carried out in different parts of
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, J&K, Chhatisgarh, and Nagaland.
The next
international medical mission with team of 17 doctors in going to Mongolia from
5th to 17th May 2019.