Hare Krishna Food For Life (HKFFL) is committed to serve the poor by organizing free medical camps in remote areas of India. Besides free medical camps HKFFL also runs a charitable dispensary at its head office at Udhampur. Here patients are given free consultation and medicines. If there is a need to refer the patient to a specialist, then we help the patient with financial aid and any other assistance needed. In free medical camps conducted by HKFFL, besides free checkup, medicines are also given free. After every camp free meals are provided to the patients, their relatives and public in general.
Some global facts
More than 24,000 people die every day in the world due to of hunger and malnutrition related problems. India has the largest number of poor in the world, both in number and in percentage (41% of the world poor). At the same time, productivity of the Indian soil is among the highest in the world. The World Bank estimates that India ranks 2nd in the world of the number of children suffering from malnutrition, after Bangladesh. Therefore free distribution of food and medical aid becomes essential in India.
According to the 2008 Global Hunger Index, India has over 200 million people who are food insecure.This means those who are under nourished make up 19 % of our total population, i.e.1 in every 5 persons is under nourished. Mal nourishment leads to TB and other diseases. The UN estimates that 2.1 million children in India die every year before reaching the age of 5, i.e. 4 every minute, mostly from preventable diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, measles, and pneumonia. Every day 1000 Indian children die due to diarrhea alone.
Details of camps conducted by HKFFL so far:
1. The first free medical camp organized by HKFFL, Udhampur was conducted at Dronthal, 10 kilometers from Udhampur, on 25th September 2010. Here 204 patients were treated and given free medicines. Chairman of HKFFL trust, HH Navayogendra Swami Maharaj also visited CHC, Chenani, a nearby town and announced sponsorship of a patient shed worth Rs. 80,000.
2. On 28th Sept 2010, a free medical camp was organized at Mantalai, which is a pilgrimage place where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. A team of 6 doctors including physicians, gynecologist, ophthalmologist and dentist treated 550 patients. Free ECG was also done to the patients requiring it.
3. On 20th Oct 2010, a free medical camp was organized at a small village Sarori, in Udhampur district. 350 patients were treated by a team of 4 doctors. Dr. Manish Gupta said that this village was very poor and there were many cases of malnutrition and night blindness. Because of lack of basic medical facilities around the village, even minor problems developed into serious chronic cases.
4. On 30th Nov 2010, a free medical camp was organized at Karlah, near Patni Top which is a beautiful picnic spot. Yet, there were very poor medical services in the village. 270 patients were treated by 4 doctors including physician, dentist and ophthalmologist.
5. Next free medical camp was organized by the trust at Prem Mandir, Dronthal on 1st Dec 2010. 42 patients were treated during this camp.
6. On 18th January 2011, a free medical camp was organized by HKFFL at Bharnara, near Ramnagar, Udhampur. 404 patients were treated by a team of 7 doctors.
7. On 19th January 2011, Trust organized another free medical camp at Jhiri, a pilgrimage site near Jammu. 400 patients were treated by the doctors.
8. On 21st January 2011, a free medical camp was organized by the trust at Doda Migrant camp, Bali Charana, Jammu. 395 patients were treated by Dr. R. D. Gupta, Dr. Manish Gupta and Dr. Vinod Khajuria.
9. HKFFL, Udhampur organized free medical camp at Bagha, near Katra on 10th Feb 2011. 303 patients were treated during the camp.
10. On 11th Feb 2011 a free medical camp was organized at Bharnara, near Ramnagar, Udhampur. The team of eight doctors treated 372 patients.
11. On 12th Feb 2011 due to continuous
requests of the public, trust again organized a free medical camp at Bali Charana slums near
Jammu. Our Muslim brothers helped organize the camp at their Masjid. 264 patients were treated
and given free medicines.
12. On 12th May 2011, a free medical camp was organized at Chajj, a small village in Udhampur hills. 612 patients were given free treatment.
13. On 18th Dec 2011, a free medical camp was organized at Srila Prabhupada Ashram, Udhampur. 550 patients were treated during the camp. Specialist doctors like Dr. Cheena (Orthopedician); and others likes critical care specialist, surgeon, and physicians from Amritsar rendered their services at the camp. A total of 8 Doctors participated in the camp. Free investigations like Bone Marrow Density, ECG, and Blood Sugar levels were done to the patients requiring that. Free medicines were also distributed.
