Polio Camp
On this day, the Dharamsala Rotary Club organized a Polio Camp in collaboration with the Red Cross at the main Dharamsala Hospital. Dr. Shubhang Aggarwal, an orthopedic surgeon from Jalandhar, volunteered to come to Dharamsala to select some possible surgery patients. The focus was set on patients that have suffered from Polio. The Dharamsala hospital has 2 operating theaters, but they only have the resources to treat the trauma patients. Dr. Aggarwal agreed to do the surgery for free in Jalandhar. He will volunteer his time and the time of his staff of nurses and anesthesiologist. He will also find sponsors to pay for the supplies and medicine. The patients will stay at no cost in the Hospital in Jalandhar for up to 10 days of post-operation treatments. Dr. Aggarwal's mother is a Rotarian lady from a lady-only club in Jalandhar. So this project has real Rotary connections.
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We first met with the Deputy Commissioner in Dharamsala, and the Hospital Director. The Rotary Club organized the registration of patients. Each patient was given a slip with the Rotary wheel, on which the Doctor would write the diagnostic and recommended treatment. There was a huge crowd waiting outside, and it took all day to see all the patients. One of the patients was only 13 days old and was born with deformed legs(below right).
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In the afternoon, we received the visit of the Rural Development Minister of the Indian State of Himachal Pradesh (right). At the end of the day, Dr. Aggarwal had seen 149 patients. 29 were Polio-related surgery candidates. 6 Polio patients did not need surgery. 25 other patients could benefit from some surgery but were not Polio-related. Only 10 patients needed further investigation to do the correct diagnostic.
There was another meeting with the Deputy Commissioner and the Hospital Director in the evening. It was decided that Dr. Aggarwal would do the surgery on the Polio patients only for now. The Rotary Club would help to contact the patients and coordinate the transportation to Jalandhar in batches of 5 to 6 at a time.
One of the patients arrived crawling at the Polio Camp. With multiple surgeries, it was determined that he would be able to stand and walk. He will be one of the first patients to go to Jalandhar.
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Red Cross Fair
At the same time, all day, there was a fair to benefit the Red Cross. The Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel Club of Dharamsala had a stand there, to sell food and play games. There was quite a crowd there also. They raised 2,150 Indian Rupees (roughly $50) for the Red Cross.
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