Epilepsy Survey Camp at Kutch

Vijay epilepsy care foundation.

Epilepsy Camp (Survey)

04/12/2013.

It was a boring afternoon when I was studying for my upcoming CA Final Exams. Just for a purpose of recreation I took out my cell phone and started checking  my e-mails. Suddenly I saw a mail subjected Medical survey from KVO (Kutchi Visa Oswal). After going through the mail I directly replied them asking about the details of the camp regarding survey. Within two days I got a call from them (KVO) were they provided me with all the details such a dates and kind of work to be undertaken etc. Best part of the camp was that it was going to start only after my exams.  I did not  gave a second thought and applied for the same since I thought it  would be a wonderful chance for me to enjoy a vacation.

                As days passed we all started meeting to discuss the details of the survey to be undertaken. What all things we need to do there and other things were discussed. I got in contact with Dr Elaben Dedhia and other members of my team – Ankita Gada(KODAY/ Dombivali), Depti Dedhia(SERDI / Mulund), Nimit Nandu(BADA/ Dombivali), Paras Pasad(DEDHIYA/Dombivali) and Renukaben(NAVAVAS/Dombivali). Here even I was very sure that I was going to enjoy my vacation in my own home town.

                Few days  later we had another meetin were ADDHA (Mr. Leeladhar Gada), Dr Ramesh Dedhia and Sailesh Bhai Gala were there to guide us. It was then only I realized that the idea of my vacation was not correct when Addha and Sailesh bhai started giving the details of the problems and need of the survey my eyes opened. We all were then emotionally connected with the project then.

                The time came, we all reached Kutch, We had to survey few villages of Mundra Taluka. Now to find an epileptic patient in the given area was like finding a pin in hay. Out of the total no of people surveyed by our group in a team of two we found 41 epileptic Patient and around 5 MR (Mentally Retarded) children’s. Out of total 46 patients (41+5) it was a shock to find that only 3 patients were taking proper diagnosis for epilepsy , rest all were either unaware or unwilling to take the medication. The thirst within us started growing just to know why this people don’t take any proper diagnosis. So we out of curiosity started asking them the reasons why they were so reluctant to get the aid since epilepsy is almost 100% curable diseases. The reasons provided by them were very shocking rather touching, some were either unaware of the consequences and others were unaware about the availability of diagnosis. Some people were so poor that they could not afford to go to hospital since it will cost them their full day’s wage that would lead to their family to sleep empty stomach for that night.

                With every passing day we all were getting involved with it deeper and deeper. We all came across so many other problems faced by the poor people whose monthly earnings were even lesser than what we people use to spend in a day in Mumbai. We got to learn how those people survived, how do they live how do they manage their affairs and so much more from them we learnt. We made sure that they get proper medical aid and for the same we tried our best to convince them to come out since they do not come out to get treated just out of fear.

                There was so much to learn for everyone. Such a wonderful and great experience we earned which is still impossible to gain by sitting in an air condition room and being closer to technology 24*7 and living a lavish life. When we all team mates use to sit in the evening to discuss the day’s work just below the sky full of stars we never felt the way we use to feel being in Mumbai because life there was so slow, and unpolluted air made it even better stay to calm us in the evening. We found so many kinds of people and to handle everyone in a different manner being calm and peaceful helped us to develop control over our mind.

On our way back we got a chance to visit MANSI and MANAV MANDIR Organizations which are helping mentally retarded Girls and boys respectively to bit more stable in their life and stand up on their feet by teaching them various things and arts so that they become independent too like us.

                I would sincerely like to thank the team of KVO and ADDHA for giving us such a lifetime opportunity to gain such an unforgettable experience which was related to a cause benefiting the rural poor patients .out of few villages surveyed the experience that was earned was of lifetime.

                I can keep writing about the camp and the experience on and on but this place may prove to be very small. We  wish we  could stay back for few more days and had done something more for the people there but  our commitments to work and family were calling us back. Next time we would definitely join other camps. It was very difficult for us to leave and the memories will not be faded ever. The work done by BHOJAY SARVODAY TRUST HOSPITAL is so good for such a cause, a salute to them.

                Just to sum up this article I would like to say that from “ 22^nd November to 2^nd December,2013”  were very special 10 days of our life as a team, and we got much more special Experience  being a part of it. We wish we keep getting such opportunities every now and then to give an helping hand to Institute which is doing such a good job.

Dipesh Sethia.

 (dipeshsethia@rocketmail.com)