Rotary’s RAHAT medical mission in Mandla
Rotary’s Active Hands Are Touching (RAHAT) provides free medical examination, dental procedures, and surgeries to the areas with limited access to healthcare since 2010. Once again, this year 2019, the large-scale camp will be organized by RAHAT in Mandla district catering to a population of more than 12 lac people. MEDP Mandla supported RAHAT in its initiative from November 7 to 14 2019. MEDP participated in two phases: A. Screening: Preceding the camp, MEDP participated in mass screenings of patients to be selected for treatment at the camp. In all nine blocks of Mandla, under the supervision of respective Block Medical Officers, the field staff participated in the coordination and conduction of these screenings (Figure 1). B. Diagnosis and treatment: MEDP was tasked as the single point of contact for diagnosis and treatment for malaria of all the fever patients visiting the camp. The project was allotted space in the General Medicine section of the camp. The duty hours were from 9 AM to 5 PM. Two teams were allotted in pre-lunch and post-lunch. Lunch was provided by the camp organizers. The MEDP booth consisted of three VMWs and one MFC supervised by the IEC/BCC officer. All diagnoses and treatment modalities along with IEC BCC material was present in the camp. The staff also participated in the coordination of camp activities with the organizers (Figure 2). MEDP tested a total of 509 patients in the 7-day camp. No malaria positive case was diagnosed. The patients who were tested at the camp for malaria represented all blocks of Mandla district i.e. the entire area covered by MEDP as part of the project’s objectives. All patients were malaria negative. This is a good secondary indicator for assessing our performance all over the district.