What are the Requirements to Organize a Free Medical Camp

Free medical camps are organized to provide health services and create an environment where the underprivileged community gets sensitized about health issues. Thousands of poor people in villages and urban areas attend the health camps.

These camps provide free tests for Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Hemoglobin etc and offers counseling & treatment by trained Doctors and Specialists. Free medicines are given to the people. Iron and Folic Acid supplements are also distributed to the malnourished at the camp. The underprivileged community also has aging members who are not able to purchase health care and access the facilities due to the long distance and other joint problems that have demobilized them. 

Apart from providing basic treatment and general check-up, the Medical Camps also help people to be aware of their health status. Often these camps provide support exclusively for adolescent girls and boys to inform them on reproductive and sexual health. Sanitary pads are distributed to adolescent girls to encourage better hygiene practices during menstruation. 

Specifically, the medical camps seek to provide both preventive and curative treatment for common conditions in the community and refer those who require specialized treatment to the relevant hospitals that are often funded by the medical trusts or NGOs. These camps play a significant role to create awareness and provide counseling on HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and other life-threatening ailments. They create awareness on the need for personal hygiene in prevention of serious disabling diseases such as eye and dental, which are prevalent in some slum areas due to dust and lack of adequate water. The free medical camps also encourage the use of available nutritious food products in the area and discourage drug and substance abuse among the community members.

-> Importance and Objectives of the Free Medical Camp

Requirements for a medical camp:

The main objective of all medical camps is to bring affordable healthcare and free health information to the community and identify the common health problems in order to devise ways of addressing them. A lot of logistic supports are needed to carry out such responsible programs successfully.

Therefore a list of the requirements is  presented below. Additional financial resources will be required for transportation of supplies, personnel, and volunteers from one region to another. Heavy security is required  and sufficient nonmedical personnel to assist with registration and the management of the crowds.

 Drugs:

1. Deworming agents or Anthelmintic
2. Anti-malaria
3. Antibiotics
4. Cough Syrups
5. Antihistamine
6. Analgesics
7. Antiepileptic treatment
8. Eye ointments
9. Local applications

Though some commonly used drugs have been suggested here, it is always better to consult a physician about which drugs are required for specific medical camps. A thorough research can be conducted within the community to find out the prevalent diseases in particular areas and drugs can be administered  accordingly.

 Surgery supplies:

1. Needles G 18, 21, 22, 24
2. Syringes 20cc, 10cc, 5cc, 2cc
3. Antiseptic
4. Disposal dressing packs
5. Sterile surgical packs
6. Cotton wool
7. Wound dressing gauze
8. Rubber gloves sterile and nonsterile

Other supplies and materials:

1. Tents, chairs, and stationary for clinical recordings
2. Vital signs monitoring equipment, medical equipment, stethoscope, and torches ophthalmoscope etc
3. Reading glasses
4. Refreshment for volunteers
5. Insecticides, treated mosquito nets, and blankets
6. Wheelchair for physically challenged patients
7. Baby clothes from age zero to five years old
8. Sanitary pads
9. Condoms and tampons

 Required personnel to support the medical camp:

1. Doctors, Clinical officers, Dentists, Opticians, and Nurses
2. Medical students, Clerical staff, Pharmacists, and Counselors
3. Administrative and security teams to support registrations, managing crowds, and general logistics

 Conclusion:

Free medical camps are organized with a sacred mission to combat diseases and malnutrition and serve the poor unconditionally. Besides providing primary health care, the camps also contribute to raising awareness amongst the people informing them about the necessity of adequate nutritious food, clean drinking water, dangers and risks of environmental pollution, virtues of preventive health care, the vitality of family planning education and services. In the medical camps, patient rights are strictly reserved and maintained: the right to privacy, information, life, and quality care. These camps also serve the marginalized groups, such as migrants and persons who have been displaced, racial and ethnic minorities women, and the vulnerable community, for example, those living with HIV.

The United Nation’s Universal Human Rights Constitution (1948) states in Article 25:“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, and housing and medical care and necessary social services.”

All human beings deserve to be subjected to basic healthcare rights irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession, job and so on. Hence, declining their rights to healthcare will only mean to deny their human rights.

Humanity can be gained only when we serve others. Being human is given but retaining our humanity is a choice. So it is our humanity which makes us spiritual and our spirit makes us human.

Organize and support our medical camps in rural areas to benefit the poor people of Pakistan