Free Surgical Camp Report

Jan. 10 – 23, 2016

St. Mary’s Mission Hospital (SMMH), Khammam, India

 

Nine of us volunteers from the USA arrived in Hyderabad from JFK/NYC Saturday evening and checked into the Novotel with our 21 duffles of medical/surgical supplies, mostly donated from generous partners in the USA. Luckily all the baggage arrived on time with us. Sunday morning, we were joined at 9AM (India time is 10 1/2 hours ahead of EST) breakfast by more vols. from USA who had come in during the night. John Mark and Franklin arrived with the hired bus. We loaded and boarded, and headed off for Khammam, 200km to the ENE. With a rest stop for lunch on the way, we arrived late afternoon at SMMH. After filing our papers with the Police, we unloaded and unpacked and gave the first timers a tour of SMMH, in all its glory.

Monday morning dawned early (5:30PM Sunday EST), and after breakfast (all meals were graciously provided by Vasantha Mark and her staff in her home), we started Screening Clinic in the Out-patient building, over 500 patients had already registered. Many came that day and were skillfully and carefully organized by Joe B., Lee Emerson, and Dr. Sulochana, and examined by the doctors.

The Opening Ceremonies were held under the huge tent-canopy, with several dignitaries present, with much fan-fare and thanksgiving by our Indian hosts.

Screening Clinic, which usually resembles a cross between a Cecil B. DeMille mob scene, and semi-controlled chaos, was run until the last patient was seen at 6PM. Over 250 patients were consulted on, with many scheduled for surgery, practically filling the OR slots in the up-coming days.

The real surgery started at 8AM Tuesday 12 Jan with our anesthesia teams organizing and preparing safe anesthesia. Four surgeons, Bob, Guy, Dickie, and Ramesh, then set to work in the two ORs on the 3 OR tables and an added gurney,. Bob taught the first timers sterile technique, cap, mask, gown, and surgical scrub, giving each lay volunteer as much opportunity to scrub and assist at surgeries and each wished. Drs.Padma and Sulochana performed Gyn surgeries every day. By Saturday 16 Jan, we had done 113 procedures on as many patients, some of whom had several sites treated. Friday afternoon, Hussain, Randy, and son Noel left for Hyderabad and the trip home. Saturday Joe Gurrala had to depart, and Ryan Gingrich arrived.

Sunday is the day off for everyone. Some of us visited the always welcoming folks in the Leprosy Village, victims and their families, which is always heart-warming for hosts and visitors alike.

Sunday afternoon, most of the American team toured the big Government Hospital in Khammam, always busy and very different from our USA hospitals. Later, Guy and George climbed the rocky promontory of the Old Fort, started in 910 AD and finished in 1450s. It offers a great view of the city of Khammam.

Surgery resumed Monday AM, working 12 to 14 hours a day for the next 5 days. At the end, 226 patients had 231 surgical procedures of one kind or another. We finished the last case Friday afternoon, in time for closing ceremonies, presided over by Rt. Rev. Bishop Prasada Rao. We finished the evening with a banquet under the stars for the FSC Team and all the 70+ wonderful people who helped to make the two weeks effort so successful for those 226 people who had procedures and the 970 or so patients who were consulted on during FSC.

On Saturday morning 23 Jan. we made final rounds, sending as many patients home as was safe and proper. We packed, loaded, and headed for the long trip home. Some of us stopped in Hyderabad to visit the lovely white marble Birla Hindu temples. We then walked around the ancient gateway Charminar, with its four towers, built as the grand entrance gate to the city in 1514, and then the largest mosque in the state, capable of holding 15,000 at prayer. We had a few minutes to buy some pearls before heading out to the Rajiv Gandhi Airport, for a very long (60hours for some) trip home, thanks to the blizzard closing JFK Airport. It was the culmination of a very successful two weeks at Free Surgical Camp.

We wish to thank all of you who so generously contributed not only to FSC, to make the Camp happen, but also to the rebuilding and re-supplying of the SMMH. You have helped us transform those parts of the Hospital we use most into the modern, twenty-first century facility that befits the safe, effective care of the poor. You have also helped pay the salaries of our Indian colleague physicians, who work, year round, caring for the poor. Our dream is to gain enough confidence of the half million people we serve, that they will use SMMH for their health care on a year round, regular basis, eventually obviating the need for a Free Surgical Camp. Whether your contribution is large or small, they all of work together. None of this would be possible without your support. We all, from both the USA and India, thank you so much.

Respectfully submitted,
George Longstreth, MD,FACS

 

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Participants:

Surgeons – Drs. Bob Dwyer, Dickie Butsch, Guy Petruzzelli, Ramesh Kharwadkar, George Longstreth, PapaRao.

Anesthesiologists – Drs. Judy Freeman, Anila Elliott, Gopi Chand, Hussain Lakdawalla; CRNAs – Randy Cima, Ryan Gingrich;

Ob-Gyn – Drs. Padma Veligati, Sulochana Christopher;

Internal Medicine – Dr. Joseph Gurrala;

Family Practice – Drs. Joshua, Rama Reddy, Evangeline Mark, Annie Chris; Nursing – Chris Butsch,RN; Sister Deborah and her many talented Nursing Staff at SMMH; Mr. Bill Dwyer, EMT.

Mr. Joe Bardenheier, FSC Director, David & Lee Emerson, Cindy Emerson Keefer, Cleo Siderides, Noel Cima;

Translators – Titus, Vincent, Christopher; Helper/handimen – Chary, Raju; Publicist – Samson (Sonny) Azariah;

Our Gracious Hosts – Vasantha & Rev.PC John Mark, President CSU, Mr.John Franklin, CSU and SMMH Business Manager; Director Diocese Khammam District – Rev. Ravindra.

Our Partner and Friend, Director of SMMH –  Rt. Rev. Dr. Bishop V. Prasada Rao.