SPECIAL CAMP REPORT
Introduction
The advisory committee of NSS Unit GVHSS Omanoor held at the school on 7/11/2009, recommended to conduct a special camp within in the Cheekode panchayath it self and the focal theme of the camp should be life style diseases and their impact in the society. The meeting was presided by our respected Principal Mr. K N Abdullakutty. Ward 16th of Cheekode panchayath (Ponnad and near by places) was selected by the committee as the location of the camp, the near by Govt. Primary Health Centre will provide all the back support for the programme. Govt.LPS Ponnad was selected as the camp site.
Organizing Committee(10/12/09)
Organizing Committee for the camp was constituted on 10th December 2009, during the meeting held in a house in Ponnad of Cheekode panchayath. The project for the 7 day camp was presented to the audience, of more than 100 in attendance. The house owner Mr. Yentheen Hajji, who was elected as the chief Patron of the committee, offered all the support to make the programme a grand success. The 101 member organizing committee elected the following office bearers.
1. Mr. Beeran Hajji (Hon. President of Cheekode panchayath) –Chairman
2. Mr. P.M. Muhammed (PTA President) –Working Chairman
3. Mr. Sunil Kumar – Vice Chairman
4. Mr. Kunjutty Ponnad – Joint Convener
5. Mr. Bichappu. C. T – Joint Convener.
Programme Officer, the general convener of the committee requested support from all . Representatives of all political parties and social organization of the panchayath were also included in the Committee.
Visit to Camp Site (13/12/09)
Principal, Programme Officer and about 65 volunteers of NSS visited Ponnad, the camp site and the neighboring residences to study the ground realities as well as the hurdles which may arise during the camp days. N S S volunteers took it as an opportunity to spread the message of the camp to the entire area. Notices were also distributed, and invited all of them to the organizing committee meeting. The same day they found time to clean the Hospital Premises and removed all plastic carry bags and wastes. PTA president, principal and hospital officials accompanied the volunteers during this cleaning campaign.
Volunteers to the Camp(20/12/09)
The Camp was officially inaugurated by Shri. Muhammedunni Hajji (Hon MLA, Konodotty Constituency). Many dignitaries addressed the meeting . Welcome speech was given by Mr. K.N. Abdullakutty (Principal GVHSS Omanoor) and vote of thanks was given by Mr. Jabbir M.A (Volunteer Secretary of NSS)
Official Protocol of the camp started at 8.30 AM with registration at special registration desk volunteered by organizing committee. Total 63 members were registered and P.O addressed the team members and emphasized the importance of maintaining commitment, dedication throughout the camp.
The first one hour, arrangement of the camp activities, including curriculum programms and distribution of duties were completed . As the lifestyle diseases are a vital issue and topic of discussion among the public and the volunteers has to play a key role in educating them, a pre-test was conducted among the volunteers to assess what they knew about life style of disease. Mr. Muhammed Abdul Latheef, JHI PHC Omanoor was the resource person from whom volunteers could clarify the confusions in an open discussion.
Afternoon session started with the orientation programme at 2’clock where various functional groups were formed to coordinate the daily activities including mess, documentation, reception, camp news paper, thought of the day, review, and cultural programmes. The groups were named after 7 flowers which were familiar in the locality like Jasmine, Rose, Lilly etc. They were named in local languages also. Later 7 groups were engaged in the construction of a waste pit, clearing of drainage ,cleaning of hospital yard etc. Volunteers prepared a beautiful garden in the school campus by utilizing the available space for which the plants as well as the seeds were collected and produced by themselves from the nearby places.
Evening programme was found much fascinating and enjoyable by the volunteers, started with a funny ice breaking session. Volunteers introduced themselves where most of them could overcome the hesitation to face a public and get rid off the stage anxiety. Dr. Muhammed Sulaiman (Lecturer in Govt College Malappuram) was the Chief Guest. He told the students how a special NSS camp could help them to develop their personality and character formation. After the dinner overall activities were evaluated and suggestions for improvement for the coming day’s activates were put forward. First day’s activities were concluded about 10.30 PM.
Marvelous Monday (21/12/09)
The daily activities of Monday started with a yoga class after the prayer. The yoga was instructed by Mr. Shajahan (PET GVHSS Omanoor). This innovative and scientific beginning helped to diffuse energy and enthusiasm for a bright beginning. With the routine protocol of NSS song, thought of the day, camp paper publishing, documentation etc. the camp activities started at 9am. Dr Abdul Kareem, Medical Officer PHC Omanoor inaugurated the workshop on health survey and he gave a class on life style disorders. Junior health inspector Mr. Naser Ahammed ,Muhammad Abdul Latheef and Praveen Kumar attended this session and necessary instructions were given to fill the Performa during the survey.
After the lunch, a film show was arranged and the film was about the severity of the life style disorders in modern society. The Evening was engaged with various arts and sports activities.
At 8 pm a class on palliative care was given by Mr. Abdul Karem and Mr. Ratheesh Kumar (Regional Coordinators IAPC).NSS District Coordinator Mr. Santo P Jose was with the camp members to inspire them. A survey rehearsal was presented in front of the officials which helped the students to rule out many confusions which may arise in the field. The day’s activities were concluded with the daily review by the assigned team.
Thrilling Tuesday(22/12/2009)
The second day started with the Yoga guided by Mr. Santo Jose, and after daily routines immediately the groups were moved to respective region of their concern for survey. As the instructions were given volunteers distributed tokens to the needy persons with symptoms of life style diseases, to participate in the medical camp and counseling class to be conducted during the camp day, on 24th December .All groups finished their survey before 1.30pm. After lunch, a cultural event presented by Mr. MP Chandran, faculty of training college Olavattur. The event named ‘NAATARIVU” was really a mind blowing event. It commemorated vanishing values and their importance in the social life. Evening cultural programme was brightful by “Naadan Chinthukal” presented by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Calicut. (An artist/ Activist).It was a collection of folk songs that are much famous in the rural regions of Kerala, Students as well as the villagers enjoyed very much. The melodious evening really made echoes till night in the minds.
Wonderful Wednesday: (23/12/2009)
After the routine activities and arrangements to the medical camp, Students could survey the rest of the residences They could cover 600 houses before a limited time of 1pm and invite the persons showing symptoms of diseases.
During the after noon, the data collected in the survey by the students were analyzed .Primarily data was analyzed within their group and was finally compiled a for statistical analysis. From the final data and reports, it is well evident that the public health issue in the modern society is much deeper and further measures were necessary to prevent this. It was concluded that about 235 Persons showing the symptoms of life style disease could participate in the medical camp. Mr. Abdul Latheef the HI of PHC was principal co-coordinator and analyst of survey data.
Daily reviews and cultural programme were much shortened for student and organizing committee had to do lot of arrangements for the coming day’s mega medical camp.
MEDICAL CAM P DAY(24/12/2009)
Mega medical camp was an humble attempt from the NSS to explore the unraveled health issues of the society which remain hidden as a iceberg phenomena. The organizing committee was made planning in the grass root level. Well arrangements were made in the camp premises, with facilities for registration, area for check up and the procedure room, so as to make the camp a grant success. All the routine morning camp activities were finished including yoga early, so that they could receive the patient to the camp from 7.30 am. Teachers, health employees and organizing committee worked systematically, to help the visitors in the camp to complete the proceedings without any delay in all counters. Hospital laboratory staff and students collected Blood and analyzed for blood sugar and cholesterol, Hemoglobin in the lab arranged within the school hall.
Mean while, selected students group collected data from the visitors those who came to attend the camp including food, life style, habits and family history etc:. Mr. K Nasar,GFC teacher of GVHSS Omanoor was the supervisor in charge of data collection.
Mr.TP Shaji (Chief laboratory technologist) supervised the technical staff and student volunteers so that without any delay patient could collect their results while leaving the camp itself. Official arrangements were made so that patients those had any abnormal lab report can consult medical officer of this hospital without much hurdles. Around 250 persons from various walks of life in Cheecode pachanyalth utilized the facilities in camp. After analyzing the data of physical parameters, of blood samples it was estimated that more than 10% of the cases have chances to develop life style diseases in near future.
In spite of many difficulties, students gathered after the camp in the camp hall to contribute their views in an Open forum –“The students and cyber crime”. Discussion was well enriched in a debate by the students. The question was that how can we imagine the current scenario without any electronic or digital devices? Is it practical?.. even though it generate criminals occasionally. Mr.Sanjeev Kumar and Mrs.Silja, the teachers of GVHSS were the moderators.
After the open forum Mr. Krishnadas HI, PHC Ponnad conducted a class on character building, how to be a responsible social and public health organizer in our own society. He shared the fact that NSS volunteering is a global mission & should be with a caring vision. He or she is a servant who always walks through the common corridors where people need help and support a lot, without expecting a material achievement or financial gains.
The late evenings were much fabulous, so that visitor’s including parents, old students social workers and neighbors came to the camp. Old students nostalgically co-memo rate their past camp experiences. Local people presented their songs , focal themes etc; for camp volunteers. Mrs. Shabana Ponnad the locally famous writer attended the camp and shares her ideas, how experiences make frame work of a Person to become a writer. In the same way the experiences shared by the senior citizens of the place has gave resurrection of values of that has been lost in the present society. They told the students to be a man of values rather that a man of money.
X-mass day( 25/12/2009)
During the X-mass day, the students were completely engaged in removing and disposing of plastic wastes from the camp site and nearby place. In order to dispose, scientifically, they made a big pit in the hospital yard so that it can be used for years, if it is maintained properly.
During the after noon, to embrace the serenity of nature and to enjoy the adventure of youth, volunteers gathered for a trekking at Chaliyappuram Hills near the river Chaliyar. Girls volunteers were much excited in this adventurous venture and involved. The over all geographical views were much beautiful than expected. These areas are the optimal place to initiate local eco-tourism and the NSS unit is planning to submit a project on this to the gramapanchyath board and DTPC, Malappuram.
The camp fire was arranged in the camp. It was a luminous experience. Students made dances and made slogans, sung, shouted jockey slogans around the camp fire. Few imitated some ‘Cinema Heroes’ as mimicry. Few neighboring families were also there to share the joy and delight of campers.
FINAL CAMP DAY(26/12/09)
At last it happened. The camp had to wind up. Both the camp organizers and the participants had to accept the realty of dispersing. such a condition generated. Volunteers cleaned the site neatly.
Valedictory ceremony was blessed by eminent social workers and personalities.Mr.P.M.Muhammad (PTA President) –Working Chairman org. committee, inaugurated the function. .Smt.Bindu K T Presided over the function. Mr.Sivadasan, Head Master G LPS Ponnad who distributed prices to the achievers like best camper, best group etc. Mr.Kavannur Nazar given the welcome speech and the programme officer expressed vote of thanks..Mr.Vijayan K, and Mr.Muhammed Haneefa were made falicitations
The entire village assembled there to see off the students. Most of them were gloomy to depart .Students them selves were also about to cry. At about 4 clock volunteers left the school to reach their home.