AAS MEDICAL RELIEF CAMPS

Kerala Relief Camp, 2018

‘once-in-a-century’ Kerala floods - 2018. Residents of Kerala were reeling from a flood that displaced nearly a million people, caused hundreds of fatalities, and washed away homes. The region started receiving heavy rains on August 8, 2018. People living at present in Kerala have never seen anything like this before when 12 of the 14 districts of the state were simultaneously affected by floods, with 5 of them having been affected most severely.

We reached to small village of Kattoyam town named Vazhapally on 28th Aug morning. Soon after, as we park the ambulance in the village and begin to take the tarps out, a huge crowd gathered to know if we have brought relief supplies for distribution. However, they were equally relieved to know we have come to provide free medical care. People were not only suffering from diseases caused due to flood, I clearly noticed the trauma in their eyes due to loss of their homes and in few cases the loss of their loved ones.

There wasn’t a moment the medical and support staff can have rest as more and more patients kept coming in. There were patients of all age groups and to our surprise most of them suffering from high sugar and BP.

We covered 9 villages: Vazhapally, Venmony, Poomkavu, Devanam, Nattaserry, Amayannoor, Panachikkad, Kannimala and Kidangara in 5 days, helped more than 1000 patients and distributed medicines, clothes and few toys that we collected from our friends and relatives to all the villagers. Surely this small effort boosted them to forget this disaster and start a new life again. I guess that's what life is all about. In return the smile on their face was all worth it for. One of the villages tied rakhis to our team out of gratitude.

MUMBAI Terrorist Attack, 26 NOVEMBER 2008

On the night 26/11. Dr. Goel got up in the night to drink a glass of water. The TV was on & she was stunned to see the firing around Taj Hotel. Victims were injured and not much of medical support was available, at 1 am in the middle of the night she quickly changed and set in the Ambulance without a second thought that it was a dangerous area to move into. She went to St. George, GT and Cama Hospitals where she along with her team of nurses spent whole night and day to give First Aid to patient and then transfer them to other hospitals with better facilities.

BIHAR FLOODS, MADHEPURA, BIHAR - AUGUST 2008

Countless people were marooned and thousands dead in Bihar after the Kosi river breached its banks upstream in Nepal, flooding villages and towns in many areas across the state on 31st August 2008. The AAS team of doctors took risk to cross flood waters 4 hour each direction in old leaky boats with the help of Army personals to reach several far flung and marooned villages of Madhepura where Govt. doctors were yet to reach. Most people were affected by diarrhea and fever. Quite a few surgeries were performed at the Singheshwar Army camp in Madhepura. After 3 days the team left from Madhepura, giving smiles and hope to thousands of affected victims as unsung as they had arrived.

YAWATMAL (Mahatashtra) FARMERS SUCIDE September 2007

To provide medical relief to Yawatmal farmers, AAS Centre team carried medications and food supplies to villages . The cost of Medication were covered by Mahindra & Mahindra. Food, Sugar, blankets & other necessities were provided by many samaritans. There has been a huge surge in farmers' suicides driven by indebtedness. Rising agricultural input costs are responsible for much of the indebtedness. Conditions in the villages were pathetic, farmers had no work and not enough to eat. Their Medical needs had no room. Villagers were very happy as they saw a doctor after many years ready to treat free of cost.

MUMBAI BOMB BLAST LOCAL TRAIN 11th July 2006

At least 184 people were killed and around 714 injured, many seriously, as seven powerful blasts ripped through packed train cars on stations during rush hour. Dazed survivors, blood on their faces, stared blankly at the explosion sites, some trying desperately to speak to their families on mobile telephones held by young men who came rushing from neighbourhood buildings. Dr. Goel, Trustee of KNCT rushed with her team in her ambulance to the blast site, from there she picked up victim and rushed them to the hospital. Doctor’s & medical suppliers were not sufficient. Dr. Goel provided her own services & medicines from her private hospital for 48 hours without sleeping.

TSUNAMI MEDICAL RELIEF CAMP Nagor & Nagapattinum, India 26 December, 2004

Indian Eastern coast had experienced a killer Tsunami after the severe earthquake near Sumatra on 26 December, 2004. The worst hit areas by killer Tsunami in India were districts of Nagapattinam and Cuddalore in the state of Tamil Nadu. The extent of damage was such that it was impossible for civic bodies to provide relief. Thousands of fishermen and urban poor living alongside seashore lost their lives and properties. Around 11,000 fisher crafts and 900 boats were damaged.

AAS Center had organized distribution of large amount of antibiotics, saline, antimalarial and other drugs, glucose packets and first- aids and dressings for open wounds and also provided relief materials in the form of oil stoves, lanterns, utensils, clothes and biscuits packets. AAS Center had set up supply relief camps and medical camps in var ious villages and treated over 10,000 victims.

MUMBAI FLOOD RELIEF CAMP 26 July 2005

On the 26 July, 2005 , Mumbai witnessed uncontrolled incessant rainfall for 72 hours resulting in heavy floods with choked gutters creating havoc. In no time roads were logged, cars with passengers were submerged and were trapped helplessly . Power supply failed and leakage of electricity in some places claimed many lives. Filth from drains was all around, inviting breakout of Malaria, dengue and skin diseases. Dr. Goel with a team of AAS Center volunteers in a knee-deep water guided by torch lights and car head lights rushed for the help of victims despite Govt. appeal to stay home. Knowing the emergency of medical aid for kids with fever, skin diseases, AAS Center volunteers under guidance of Dr.Goel worked for 48 hours at a stretch in ASALFA and Daamu Nagar (Kandivali E) low lying areas, very difficult to treat kids where there was hardly any dry place. Over 5,000 kids and adults were treated by Dr.Goel AAS Centre team sourced a staple food like puri bhaji for 1,000 hungry people who had lost their homes & livelihood.

GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF CAMP - January 26,2001

An Earthquake measuring 6.9 struck northwestern India on January 26,2001. Nearly large numbers of peoples were dead as a result of the tremor, with casualties, even more than the above. The Destruction was on such a level that almost all man-made structures, temples, mosques, hospitals, shops, houses were posted to become prey to devastation of the Earthquake. Dr Goel with her team of doctors held medical camps. Most of the people had bone fractures. Over 10 camps were set up & 1200 victims were treated. Food & other essentials were distributed to devastated families. Our supplies at Bhachau Station.

ORISSA CYCLONE MEDICAL & RELIEF CAMP, 29 October 1999

A violent cyclone hit India’s eastern coast on Friday, 29 October 1999. Winds of up to 260 kph (155 mph) raged forover 36 hours. The winds caused a seven-metre tidal wave thatswept more than 20 km inland and brought massive destructionand death to a number of coastal districts in the state of Orissa.It is estimated that more than 10 million people in 12 coastalbelt districts were affected b y the cyclone. More than 10,000people lost their lives.

AAS Centre responded immediately. It collected essential supplies of Tarpolene, food, water purifying chemicals and a large quantity of medicines and set off by train to Bhubaneshwar. NALCO provided them place to stay and three trucks to carry supplies to distant villages. There was no place to stay for the AAS Centre team of 23. This did not deter them and they could go to most interiors with the help of military right up to Paradeep. Poverty & flood striken villagers had no food to eat. Our team cooked food & shared with the villagers at every camp.

Goel Hospital, Wireless Rd, Ekta Nagar, J B Nagar, Andheri East, Andheri, Maharashtra 400059

022 2832 3659

subhash@katalystcorp.in

9725127710

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