The 6th Free Surgery Project under the Navjeevan Medical Team took place between the 12th and 16th of April 2023. 24 patients were posted for surgery on the 12th of April and about 20 patients were brought to the hospital in Nabarangpur. Some of the patients were brought from Semiliguda by the Navjeevan Staff. Food and all facilities were arranged for both patients and bystanders. On the 11th of April, the medical team went for rounds and all formalities for those being posted for surgery were completed by late night. The pre-operative orders were filled and kept ready for the 1st day of camp.

 A lot of volunteers came forward to help us during this camp. The patients were tired after a long journey and yet expectantly waiting for the day ahead. The cases posted for day one were for uterus removal, thyroid surgeries, surgeries for piles, Herniotomy and other paediatric surgeries etc.

 The surgeries began by 09:00 AM and went on till 09:30 PM, post which post-operative rounds were completed, and the pre-operative orders were written for those undergoing surgery on Day 2. Of the twenty cases posted for the day, a few had to be postponed due to patients having high blood pressure & in paediatric cases, due to low haemoglobin count, some children needed blood transfusions. A few of the follow-up cases didn’t require further surgery. A 5-year-old who underwent surgery for Hypospadias in 2021, was called for follow-up surgery, but he didn’t require one as his issue was resolved. Another 6-year-old who also underwent surgery needed a follow-up surgery, however, due to low haemoglobin count, he required a blood transfusion and the provision for the same was made by Navjeevan Community Development Society (NCDS).

After dinner, the team retired for the night. Everything was wrapped by midnight. Due to some Post-surgery complications, the team had to re-explore the case, in the OT from 02:00 AM to 04:00 AM, post which the team was able to rest till about 07:00 AM, before getting ready for Day 2. Day one was intense, physically, and emotionally, with long surgeries and a few things did not work out as per our set schedule. Yet there were always things to be content with and happy about. The enthusiastic Staff members of Navjeevan ensured Snacks were provided on a timely basis to OT staff and all the work that required to be taken care of was done exceptionally well. A total of 17 surgeries were performed of which 18 were major surgeries and one minor surgery.

The surgeries for day 2 went as per schedule. The day came to an end by 10:00 PM. Post surgeries, the medical team went on rounds, checking the pre-operative orders, and checking if lab work has been completed for all. The Navjeevan team performed 19 surgeries, 11 major surgeries and 8 minor surgeries. A few of the children with sickle cell disease had low Hb. And so, post-surgery, they required a few pints of blood transfusion. With Day 2 coming to an end, half of the surgeries scheduled for the camp were also completed.

The third day of surgery began at 09:00 AM and surgeries went 09:30 PM. A total of 19 surgeries took place on Day 3.

On the last day of the medical camp, 10 major surgeries and 3 minor surgeries were performed.

Over the course of four days, a total of 68 surgeries were performed by the Navjeevan Medical team headed by Dr. Babitha Kallimel. Overall, the four days of Free Surgery Medical camp came as a blessing in the lives of many who would otherwise have not been able to afford the cost of surgery. It was a happy feeling to see the majority of the patients getting discharged. Such a happy sight to see them return home, devoid of many ailments and tumours.

The Navjeevan Medical team avows to continue the work it has started, to be a healing balm in the lives of many more who for many reasons cannot undergo treatments.