Jeevak – the “Real” father of Medical Science
Jeevak kaumarbhritya (525-450 B.C), contemporary of Lord Buddha, was the first “Historical” doctor of India and the world, whose skill and excellence in field of Medical science had no bounds. He was not a doctor of any particular state but his work field was the whole “Aryavart” (Northern &Central India) and he was a doctor of both ordinary and extra-ordinary people. He successfully treated iconic personalities like lord Buddha, Magadh emperor – Bimbasar & Avanti King – Chand Pradyot. The whole Tripitak literature in Pali language is full of accounts related to the “Medical Miracles” of Jeevak rashtriya.
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.
