Asian Aid’s free medical camps in communities and schools in India, Bangladesh and Nepal provide access to healthcare for those who may not be able to afford it otherwise. This is especially important for low-income individuals or those without health insurance. Apart from free medical consultation and medical diagnostic support, needy patients are also provided with free of cost medicines and free medical tests. 

In a small community near the Nepal-India border, school health camps organized by our team have been a beacon of hope.

In these schools, over 600 students were enrolled, but around 60% of them came barefoot, a stark reflection of their impoverished backgrounds. Uniforms were a rarity; most children wore tattered clothes held together by patches and stitches, while some holes were left gaping.

The classrooms were woefully under-equipped. Inadequate desks and chairs forced students to bring jute sacks (bora) from home to use as seats on the floor. Each day, the children carried their sacks back home to preserve them for the next day’s lessons.

Amidst these challenging conditions, our school health camps aimed not only to address immediate health concerns but also to provide education on critical health issues. The sessions included awareness about the causes and prevention of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and cervical cancer, emphasizing the importance of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

One heartwarming story that emerged from these camps was that of Suruchi, an 11-year-old girl struggling academically. Her teacher noted that despite her efforts, she lagged behind her peers and was often labeled a “slow child.” During the health screening, an optometrist discovered that Suruchi had Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye. This condition leads to poor vision in one eye because the brain favors the other, stronger eye. Without intervention, it can lead to permanent vision loss.

Thanks to the timely diagnosis, Suruchi was provided with special glasses and eye drops. The improvement in her vision was immediate and profound; she could finally see the board clearly and participate fully in class. The joy and relief on Suruchi’s face were palpable, a testament to the life-changing impact of the health camp.

Our team met with Suruchi’s parents to explain her condition and the necessity of ongoing treatment and regular check-ups. Overwhelmed with gratitude, they committed to ensuring that Suruchi received the care she needed to preserve her sight.

Through these school health camps, we continue our efforts to improving the health and educational outcomes for all the children in these communities, ensuring that they have a brighter, healthier future ahead.