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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
Gujarat. I attended the camp three years ago with my mentor, Dr. Nitin Shah, professor of Anesthesiology at Loma Linda University, California. The first camp in Vyara was a General Surgical Camp with a special emphasis on Hernias and Hydroceles. In three days, employing two operating theaters, 5 operating tables, and numerous surgeons volunteering their time, we performed over 150 hernias and hydrocele. Since the camp's inception in 2007, we have performed approximately 150 surgeries each year at the annual Vyara camp. Everything from pre-op testing to surgery to post-op care, as well as lodging and meals are provided to the patient 100% free of cost.
who underwent a surgical procedure. Without a doubt, I can say this was one of the most eye-opening educational endeavors I have embarked on. Where else will I get to negotiate with the rickshaw driver, drink fresh coconut water in the surgeon's lounge, diagnose Duchene's dystrophy, visit 72 jinalaya (a Jain tirth) and watch a breathtaking sunset at the Mandavi beach-all in the same day! In addition to honing my clinical skills, I encountered and have gained an appreciation for medical problems uncommon in the US. I come out of this elective with a broader perspective on the practice of medicine. I witnessed a small version of humanity at its very best.
This trip was.... inspiring, refreshing, and served as a reminder for why I wanted to enter medicine in the first place.
પંચ તત્વની જેલડો દિનેશ ઓ. શાહ
The healthcare providers, including the surgeons and the anesthesiologists, are giving their time without receiving any monetary compensation. In doing so, they are fulfilling their commitment to the Hippocratic Oath and their profession- by serving those who cannot otherwise afford such medical care. Seeing the local healthcare community come together to serve the underserved reaffirms my faith in humanity and gives me pride in belonging to such a noble profession. Encouraged by our success at Vyara, we embarked on a similar mission for Bardoli. With the generous help of Dr.Amrut Patel, Chief surgeon at the local government hospital, the stage was set for our first surgical camp in Bardoli. Approximately 40 hydrocele surgeries were performed for prescreened patients coming from many surrounding villages.
તાપણી કરીને બાળ્યા મેં તો ધરમ કરમના મેલ જીવનના એકેએક દિવસે મેં જોયા જુદા ખેલ
જતન કરી ખુબ લાડ લડાવી માલીસ કરાવી તેલ ઈંચ તત્વની કાયા મારી જાળવી રાખી મેં જેલ
આતમ કેદી ઉડી જાશે એક'દિ ખાલી પડશે જેલ માટીના મોર માટીમાં જાશે રડશે કોઈ નાની ઢેલ
I realize that in such surgical camps, a large volume of surgeries are performed in a short period of time. Working under a high case load and with time constraints, it is easy to overlook simple details. To improve patient safety, I wanted to introduce basic surgical safety guidelines and work under the motto of "Right patient, right procedure, right site." We created a simple checklist using the WHO Surgical Safety checklist as our template. To integrate our small intervention required effort from each member of the surgical team- from the OR nurse to the surgeon as well as the anesthesiologist. I strongly believe this extra effort is worth the time because it will reduce errors on our part.
વિદાય દેશે એક દિન સૌએ શણગારીને વેલ જીવન પળમાં સરકી જાશે જેમ નદીની રેત
આશા તૃષ્ણા મહેચ્છા કેરા કંઈક જણાવ્યા મહેલ હૈયે હિંમત રદયે રામ મારી સો જોજનની સહેલ
Cela M. ALS. Soldeschlils.
We implemented this at all three of the camps- and I can truly say my presence has made a difference in the life of each patient
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