Medical Camps in Ladakh
Asoka Mission has been working for the last three decades in providing medical care to the people of Ladakh especially those who do not have access or cannot afford advanced and specialist medical care facilities.
As part of the Medicare Initiative, Asoka Mission has been organising free medical camps for the last 2 decades with the help of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi in Leh, Kargil and in 2021, for the first time in Zanskar.
During these medical camps, patients receive free consultation. The patients who are diagnosed with serious, complex and advanced diseases for which treatment is not available in Ladakh are referred to AIIMS. The further treatment of many of these patients is facilitated by Asoka Mission.
In 2021, four medical camps were organised in Ladakh:
- 1-Day Consultation for Cardiothoracic Patients, Leh
The first medical camp organised by Asoka Mission this year was a 2-day free Medical Consultation for Cardiothoracic patients (heart surgery cases) in Leh on 19-20 April with Dr. Shiv Chaudhary, Head of the Department (HOD) of Cardiothoracic department (CTVS), AIIMS, New Delhi.
During the medical camp, a total of 74 patients were seen. The patients came from different parts of Ladakh including Leh, Sham, Changthang, Nubra, Kargil and Zanskar regions. Except 9 patients, all 65 patients had undergone heart surgeries sometime in the last 3 decades. About 16 patients had undergone heart surgeries back in the 1990s. The cases of heart surgeries seen during the medical camp related to valve repair and replacement, ACHD (Adult Congenital Heart Disease), ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), RHD (Rheumatic Heart Disease), coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the heart), pacemaker, and hole in the heart.
- 2-day Cardiology Consultation, Leh
The second medical camp organized by Asoka Mission in 2021 was a 2-day free cardiology consultation camp in Leh for heart patients during which Dr. Sandeep Mishra, Professor, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, provided free consultation to about 100 patients.
46 patients came for routine check ups following heart surgeries. Some of them had complaints such as breathlessness while climbing up, tiredness after working, pain in neck or shoulder, and acidity after meals. 8 patients had pacemakers, most of whom had come for routine check up. 10 patients were referred to AIIMS, New Delhi for further consultation and treatment. Rest of the patients had different heart-related cases such as hole in heart, valve related issues, angioplasty, etc.
- 4 – Day Medical Camp, Padum, Zanskar
The third medical camp organized by Asoka Mission in 2021 was a 4 – day medical camp in the remote region of Zanskar from 24-27th July. This was the first ever medical camp in Zanskar.
A team of 12 super specialist doctors from various departments of AIIMS, New Delhi including Oncology, Oncosurgery, Palliative care, Endocrinology, Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, Gynaecology and General medicine, in the 3-day medical camp. More than 1500 patients were screened in the OPD during the camp. Out of these, the highest number of patients, about 450, were screened under the Orthopaedics department. Some 120 patients were screened under the Gynaecology department. The rest of the patients were screened under the oncology, neurosurgery, paediatrics and general medicine departments. Some unique cases appeared such as liver and kidney transplant. Close to 70 patients were identified who had serious or advanced illnesses such as suspected cancer, cases requiring knee replacement or neurological treatment. Further treatment of these serious cases will be facilitated by Asoka Mission at AIIMS, New Delhi.
- 4- Day Orthopaedic Camp, Leh
The fourth medical camp organized by Asoka Mission in 2021 was a 4 – day orthopaedic camp held from 7-11 October, during which, a team of 7 orthopaedic doctors and nurses from New Delhi led by renowned orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. C. S. Yadav, formerly Professor at Department of Orthopaedics, AIIMS, conducted 5 hip and 37 knee replacement surgeries for patients of Ladakh at S.N.M Hospital, Leh.
The patients who underwent surgeries during the camp hailed mostly from the remotest areas of Ladakh, namely Zanskar, Nubra, Changthang, Sham, etc. Most of them were also from economically, very weak backgrounds. Thus, the medical camp was a blessing for these patients as they could avail treatment and walk properly again without having to travel to faraway metropolitan cities for medical treatment while bearing heavy expenses.