Health Camps by Lion's club in Nalgonda District!

Eye Camps:

At present the Trust is carrying the following activities every year: 300 IOL Eye Surgical Camps, 150 School Children Eye Screening camps.

Districts Covered
Camps are conducted at present in nine districts viz. Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Warangal, Mahaboob Nagar, Medak, Chittoor, Karim Nagar, Guntur.

A Typical Eye Camp

An eye camp is planned well in advance and the organizers select the camp site. 3 or 4 days before the eye camp pamphlets are distributed. Organisers may use Loud speakers on Autos, Tom Tom, or any other means to propogate the message.

A camp unit usually consisting of a medical doctor, refractionists, technicians and counselors arrive by 9'0 clock at the camp site. If the distance to the camp site is over three hours, the unit arrives a night before to the nearest town and arrives at the camp site in the morning.

The typical flow chart of an eye camp is as follows :

1. Registration: the Camp patients register themselves.

2. Medical Examination: The Patients are screened for any eye ailments. And depending on the ailment, they are given medicine, sent to Refraction, admitted for surgery or referred to the Base Hospital.

3. Admission: The admitted patients are tested for Diabetes, Blood pressure, Tension, and Lacrimal test.. If they are normal in all the tests the patients are selected for Surgery. If they do not test normal, they are referred to the base hospital. The admitted patients are sent t o counseling.

4. Refraction: Patients sent here are tested for visual acuity and if they do not have a perfect vision are prescribed spectacles.

5. Medicines: Patients who have been prescribed medicines b the medical doctor are given free medicines.

6. Optical Shop: Spectacles are provided at a subsidized cost to the patients who have been prescribed. If the sponsorer so chooses, they are given free of cost to the patient and the sponsorer is billed for the cost.

7. Counselling: The patients who have been admitted and have been selected for surgery are given counseling about the Pre-operative, Operative and Post-Operative care.

The Patients are transported to the base hospital for surgery, usually the next day. The patients are given food, IOL surgery, medicines and Spectacles free of cost. Then after a couple of days after post-operative care they are transported back to the camp site and are given follow u check up every week for 6 weeks

Other Eye Camps

The other camps that are conducted in conjunction with IOL camps or separately are Diabetic Camps, Glaucoma Camps, Vitamin-A distribution Camps, Spectacles distribution Camps and Eye Donation Camps.

HOSPITALS' FACILITIES  Services Available The following ophthalmic services are available in the Hospital namely Eye Check up, Refraction, Cataract, I,O.L, Phaco, Cornea Transplant, Retina, Squint Treatment, Neuro-Ophthalmology , Glaucoma , Vitreo- Retinal, Oculoplasty , Contact Lenses, Emergency Service etc., and above all houses Smt. Vangoori Laxmamma Lions national Eye Bank.. A Pharmacy, An Optical Shop, an Outreach (Eye Camps) Department are also located in the hospital.  Infrastructure The Hospital is a Multispeciality Eye Hospital having 100 beds. 85 free beds 15 paying beds. A separate paying section., and a separate free section., with OP/IP sections separately and having four operation theatres in a separate block. The Hospital has all the equipment to make it a state-of-the-art hospital. The hospital has 5 microscopes thus enabling five doctors to perform surgeries at a time. It has Yag Laser, Diode Laser, and automated perimetry among other latest equipment.  Statistics Year Over Year Comparison Details 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 Free Op 5110 11235 12922 26698 16916  25463 Paying Op 1191 3136 3594 21204 3097  6457 Camps Op 24379 51949 66835 85339 85015 104891 Free IOL -  -  112  950 78  599 Paying IOL   634 1341  1572  585 511  537 Camps IOL  2351  4698  5134  5478 6123  8264 Free Non-IOL   31 52  63  884 77  375 Paying Non-IOL    212  242 276 604 354  306 Camps Non-IOL   94  122 306  448 392  407 Camps  67  171  250  268 303  609 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS-- APRIL 1999- March 2000 S.NO DISTRICT NAME NO.OF CAMPS O.P ADMISSIONS  IOL NON-IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 33 9856 1200 1027  34 1162 2. RANGA REDDY 27 11245 1050 946 43 1039 3  MAHABOOBNAGAR 7   3278 415  378   17 395 Total  67  24379 2665  2351 94 2596 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS APRIL 2000- March 2001 S.NO DISTRICT NAME NO.OF CAMPS O.P ADMISSIONS  IOL NON-IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 83 8940 735 714 9 723 2. RANGA REDDY 31 9182 860 840 9 849 3. NALGONDA 34 19813 1800 1786 61 1847 4. MAHABOOBNAGAR 18  8905 850 812 24 836 5. WARANGAL 2  660 70 66 1 67 6. MEDAK 3 2349 210 200  3  203 TOTAL  171  49849 4525 4418   107 4525 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS APRIL 2001- MARCH 2002 S.NO DISTRICT NAME NO.OF CAMPS  O.P  ADMISSIONS IOL NON-IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 116 9356 502 400 18 418 2. RANGA REDDY 45  9220 622 537 23  560 3. NALGONDA 44 23736 2355 2122 137 2259 4. MAHABOOBNAGAR 13 7288  681 629 29 658 5. WARANGAL 16 8766 794 701 54 755 6. MEDAK 13 5533 511 461 32 493 7.  CHITTOOR 1 2012 240 213 05 218 8. KARIMNAGAR 1 305 25 18 3  21 9. GUNTUR  1 619 59 53 5 58 250 66835 5789 5134 306  5440 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS - APRIL 2002-MARCH 2003 S.no  Camps Places & Districts No of Camps OP ADMITS IOL Non - IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 109  6479 302 232 11 243 2. NALGONDA 78 39047 3302 2608 209 2817 3. R.R.DISTRICT 19 10046 629 483  41 524 4. MAHABOOBNAGAR  32 14974 1492 1152 90 1242 5. MEDAK 06  1625 131 113  09  122 6. WARANGAL 23  11884 1004 835 79 914 7 GUNTUR 01 1284 72 55 09 64 Total   268 85339 6932 5478 448 5926 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS - APRIL 2003-MARCH 2004 S.no  Camps Places & Districts No of Camps OP ADMITS IOL Non - IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 109  3957 196  156  2 158 2. NALGONDA 48 17544  1641  1260  80  1340 3. R.R.DISTRICT 28 9820 507  296  26  322 4. MAHABOOBNAGAR  13 5512  480  375  24  399 5. MEDAK 87 39749  4187 3464  212  3676 6. WARANGAL 18  8433  741  572 48  620 Total   303 85015  7752 6123  390  6515 DISTRICT WISE STATISTICS - APRIL 2004-MARCH 2005 S.no  Camps Places & Districts No of Camps OP ADMITS IOL Non - IOL TOTAL 1. HYDERABAD 126 5363 430 358 8 366 2. NALGONDA 164 31422 3858 3032 171 3203 3. R.R.DISTRICT 61 8373 713 549  21 570 4. MAHABOOBNAGAR  20 31142 3311 2617 123 2739 5. MEDAK 191 7084 814 619 21 640 6. WARANGAL 46 14259 1523 1089 63 1152 7. DELHI 1  7248 - - - - Total   609 104891 10649 8264 407 8670

Fluorosis in Nalgonda District.

About Fluorosis:

Fluorosis is a disease caused due to ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, which affects the teeth and bones. Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems. Paradoxically, low levels of fluoride intake help to prevent dental caries. The control of drinking-water quality is therefore critical in preventing fluorosis. The condition and its effect on people Fluorosis is caused by excessive intake of fluoride. The dental effects of fluorosis develop much earlier than the skeletal effects in people exposed to large amounts of fluoride. Clinical dental fluorosis is characterized by staining and pitting of the teeth. In more severe cases all the enamel may be damaged.

Fluorosis in Nalgonda:

There are three kinds of water sources available namely rainwater, surface water and ground water. Rainwater is clean and ideal for drinking and cooking. Since rainfall is uneven storage becomes a major problem. Large storage reservoirs are needed which are very expensive to build and maintain. Rainwater harvesting in bunds and tanks will help in keeping ground water levels higher. Surface water sources are tanks, dams, canals and rivers. The fluoride content of Nagarjunasagar reservoir and its canals is low and suitable for drinking and cooking since the fluoride content ranges between 0.4-0.5 PPM. Tank waters are usually contaminated with biological and chemical pollutants. Such water should not be used without treatment and disinfection. Fluoride content of tank water is higher than rainwater and is in the range of 1.4 PPM. Rivers are not perennial and their fluoride content varies from 1.0 PPM in Alair vagu to 7 PPM in stream near Sivannagudem. It is surprising that fluoride content river waters in Nalgonda like Peda Vagu, Chandur Vagu, Chinnakaparthi stream, Kodabakshupalli vagu etc are higher and are not suitable for drinking.
Ground water sources are wells and boreholes. Fluoride content of well water can vary greatly depending on the geological structure of the aquifer and the depth at which water is drawn. The fluoride content is unevenly distributed in ground water both vertically and horizontally and hence every sample has to be tested before use. The fluoride content of granite rocks in Nalgonda varies between 325 to 3200 PPM with a mean of 1440 PPM. The fluoride content of soils in this district varies between 28 to1780 PPM. The fluoride content of ground waters in Nalgonda ranges between 0.4 to 20 PPM. The reasons adduced for this high level of fluoride in ground waters of this district are the low calcium content of rocks and soils and the presence of high levels of bicarbonate in soils and waters. Borehole content of fluoride is even higher and they may have abnormal concentrations of trace elements and hence may not be suitable for drinking. If all the sources of waters in the region are not suitable for use one has to consider defluoridation of waters to reduce its fluoride content. The experience with the use of defluoridation plants was not satisfactory in the past. Part of the problem may be poor maintenance due to lack of skilled help and also the cost. The majority of these plants clogs up after sometime and become ineffective in lowering the fluoride content of the water in the long run. Adding alum as done in Nalgonda technique may not be ideal because aluminum is being incriminated in the causation of Alzeimers disease in the west.
Among the three sources of water best is rainwater followed by Nagarjunasagar water supply through canals. Majority of ground waters in this endemic regions are not suitable for human consumption.

Preventing fluorosis:

*Supply clean and floride-free water from canalas/rivers like, Nagarjunasagar.
*Install deflorination water treatment plants in all villages, schools/colleges, public/private offices, and so on.
*Thorough medical checkup.
*Keep environment clean.
*DO NOT let the ground water polluted from external checmicals.

Fight against Fluorosis in Nalgonda:

Though many regional socail welfare organizations and other organizations from round the world are fighting to educate governments and the local people about FLUOROSIS, the damage rate is still raising.

High Court ordered to supply clean and floride-free drinking water to the high-hit areas like Nalgonda in 2001. A division bench of the AP High Court comprising chief justice SB Sinha and justice VVS Rao on 24 Aug 2001 directed supply of drinking water in water tankers to fluorosis-affected parts of Nalgonda district. In a 20-page order, the bench disposed of a writ petition filed by PR Subash Chander. The petitioner complained of failure on the part of the government in providing proper drinking water for the residents of Nalgonda district. Senior counsel s Ramachandra Rao pointed out that the permissible percentage of fluorine in water was between 0.5 to 0.8% but water in Nalgonda had a high percentage of fluorine ranging from 10 to 13%. He successfully argued before the bench that any further delay in arresting the consumption of such water would be a serious violation of the right to life guaranteed under the constitution. “The role of the state to provide every citizen with adequate, clean drinking water and to protect water from getting polluted is not only a fundamental directive principle in the governance of the state but is also a right under article 21 of the constitution of india,” the bench said. The directions issued by the court include consideration by the government of the feasibility of concentrating on mandals where the problem is more acute; free special medical care to all those afflicted with fluorosis free of cost; involving non-governmental organisations like society for integrated development in urban and rural areas and sri satya sai institute of higher learning; educating people about use of ground water and if necessary, taking steps to close down borewells where the problem of fluorosis is endemic and consider feasibility of evacuating the people from affected villages to safer places.

A.B.N.Rao and A.H.Siddiqui, have posted articles on fluorosis to influence government and welfare organizations.

Govt aids to fluorosis victims in Nalgonda:

On 10 Sept 2004, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr.YS Rajashekhar Reddy gave an assurance to the fluorosis-affected people of Nalgonda district that the Government would tap all sources to mobilise Rs. 600 crores required for providing fluoride-free drinking water for them. He also announced a pension scheme for those crippled by the disease.

Past state and central governments assured to adopt the floride-effected Nalgonda district, and relieve the people from fluorosis. Not all kept their words.

Important links:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1981710&pageindex=1

http://fluorosisinandhra.org/faqs_page.htm

National Highway-9, gateway of accidents.

The National Highway between Hyderabad and Vijayawada is the gateway between Telangana and Costal Andhra regions. Though part of the road was converted into 4 lanes with divider separating two directions of traffic, most of the length is left behind with two lanes only. The road between Thoopranpet village and Kodad, in Nalgonda district, which is about 130 KMS stretch, is pending to expand. This length of the road has only two lanes for the traffic moving in both the directions. There is no divider either. This road is the cause of most accidents in the entire state of Andhra Pradesh.

On 3rd April, 08, there were 7 deaths on this highway in 3 different incidents. All these 7 victims are the family heads. Now their families are abonded. The traffic in recent years has tripled on this route, but the road is the same. In fact, the condition of it is even worst, both on and off the road. This road hasn't got blessings either from the current or past governments. Though there is an MP and few MLAs who represent cabinet berths for key portfolios in the central and state cabinets, the developments are moving at sloth-pace. When a leader pass-by, their convoy will be headed with a police jeep with siren and two police men hanging out of the jeep, waving their ‘laati’ to clear the road. Even heavy vehicles have to get off the road, otherwise have to taste police’s laati. What about ordinary people?

Besides the width and divider issues, the road has too many narrow curves, causing danger to the moving vehicles and lives of the people. There are about 2 feet pit holes on the roadsides, and up to one-foot holes on the road. There is no public safety for travelers on this road. On an average one accidental death, and another injury is recorded on this road every day, only between Thoopranpet and Kodad. Thousands of families are abandoned and millions are injured in the history of this road. I know dozens of families that were thrown on roads just because their primary family supporter was killed on this road, or injured. There are few families, who happen to live a decent life earlier, are now on roads begging in the streets and bus stops, due to damage caused by an accident. Besides, road condition, the heavy vehicles move so recklessly that they don’t care about other vehicles. Two wheelers are like insects to these heavy vehicles. They have to get off the road or die. Had if the road is wide, then most of the accidents would not occur, and with divider separating two directions, the accident rate could be brought down to rare occurrences.

Many NRI's (Non Resident Indians') families reside by this highway. Ever time we read news about an accident on this road, our pulse rate raise, and blood pressure shoots-up. We wrote many letters to the present and past governments and officials, but in vein. We should demand every political party to stand-by this issue, and put efforts to start road widning work.

Government should also educate about traffic sense, and should be followed everywhere by everyone. Whenever any vehicle is for repair while moving, the drivers just stop the vehicle on the road itself, and fence with small stones. There won’t be any precautions. Sometimes during night, other vehicles assume that it’s moving, or doesn’t realize that it’s static, will hit from behind. When these vehicles are repaired and ready to go, they just move away, leaving the stones on the road itself. Some vehicles carry heavy items that some items hang out of the trucks, and cause hazard to others. Sometimes, accidents occur because of animals. Govt should take precaution to fence or, somehow keep animals away from high ways. This highway has become a great danger to lives in all forms. I request every human being to put every possible effort to make this road wide, and put an end to these accidents.

Vijay Gummi