In connection with World Diabetes Day 2021, SACHET-Pakistan in collaboration with Alliance for Diabetes and Liver Diseases (ADLD), Islamabad organized a one-day free medical screening camp for diabetes, cholesterol and hypertension at SACHET Clinic Gagri, Japan Road, Sihala Islamabad on Sunday, 14th November 2021.
World Diabetes Day is the global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus and is observed on 14th November every year. World Diabetes Day was launched in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the rapid rise of diabetes around the world. Every year World Diabetes Day focuses on a theme related to diabetes, different factors that influence the risk of diabetes and its complications; The theme for World Diabetes Day-2021 is “Access to Diabetes Care; If Not Now, When?”
The objectives of organizing the free medical camp were:
1. To provide free and high-quality medical services; overall physical examinations, free diagnostic tests and health check-ups for the underprivileged population of rural Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
2. To bring awareness among the disadvantaged population of the district Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Diabetes related complications and who have no access to basic healthcare services or knowledge about the diseases they are suffering from.
At 9:30 am the medical team of Alliance for Diabetes and Liver Diseases (ADLD), Islamabad (see Annex I) headed by Prof. Dr. Saleem Qureshi and Dr. Mussarat Iqbal arrived at SACHET Clinic Gagri. The timing of camp was from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm. SACHET’s team mobilized the local community at Gagri and its surrounding areas by distributing handbills, installing banners and streamers, and announcements in Mosques. The registration process began at 9:45 am. Desks/counters were installed and designated for different screening lab tests such as Blood Pressure (BP), BSR (Blood Sugar Random), Cholesterol, Uric Acid, Hepatitis A, B & C, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Bio-thesio, Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and Body Mass Index (BMI). The local community representatives including young Volunteers (boys and girls) shouldered administrative arrangements for the successful operations of the camp.
Newly appointed President, SACHET-Pakistan Ms. Ayesha Khan, visited the camp and appreciated the efforts of the organizing team of SACHET and ADLDI. Mr. Muhammad Faheem, Chief Executive Director SACHET and Dr. Rehana Hidayat briefed Ms. Ayesha Khan about the services provided during the camp at SACHET-Clinic Gagri. Community members including men, women and children showed up for the camp including community members of Gagri and its adjacent communities including Lohi Bheer, Bhandar, Khurd, Pind Malkan, Pind Gagri, Dhok Darziyan, Gagri Niaziyan, Hard-o-Gahr, Rawat, Jhandala, Dhok Khardiri, Darvala, Sihala, Dhok Awan, Noori Syedan, Ghanghota Syedan, Morgah, and Partha visited the Free Medical Camp. Security was ensured by formally informing the SHO of Police Station Sihala.
At the free medical camp, the experts of Alliance for Diabetes and Liver Diseases, Islamabad delivered the following on-spot free services to the patients:
1. Blood Pressure.
2. Blood Sugar Random test (BSR).
3. Uric Acid test (A uric acid is a tool of screening for most of purine metabolic disorders. High uric acid level may eventually lead to permanent bone joint and tissue damage, kidney and heart disease).
4. Cholesterol test.
5. Hepatitis A, B, & C test.
6. Bone Mineral Density (BMD is the process to measure calcium and other types of minerals in an area of the bones. The BMD helps healthcare provider detect osteoporosis and predict the risk of bone fractures).
7. Bio-tensiometery test (A process to measure the threshold for perception of vibration sense which is used for assessing peripheral, neuropathies as seen in diabetic patients).
8. Body Mass Index (BMI is a person weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, a high BMI can indicate high body fatness. BMI screening for weight categorized that may lead to health problems).
9. Haemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c measures the amount of blood sugar attach to haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen from lungs to the rest of the body).
10. Awareness lectures for diabetic and non-diabetic patients, topic includes management and prevention of diabetes and a diet plan for diabetic patients.
Summary of patients received treatment during the camp
| Sr. No | Description | Qty/Number |
| 1 | Total Patients treated | 153 |
| 2 | Total Male patients | 51 |
| 3 | Male patients (50 & above) | 16 |
| 4 | Male patients (31 to 49) | 27 |
| 5 | Male patients (30 & below) | 8 |
| 6 | Total female patients | 102 |
| 7 | Female patients (50 & above) | 29 |
| 8 | Female patients (31 to 49) | 46 |
| 9 | Female patients (30 & below) | 27 |
Summary of test conducting during the free medical camp
| Sr. No | Name of Medical Tests | Number |
| 1 | Blood pressure | 153 |
| 2 | Blood Sugar Random (BSR) | 153 |
| 3 | Uric Acid | 129 |
| 4 | Cholesterol | 109 |
| 5 | Bones Mineral Density (BMD) | 138 |
| 6 | Body Mass Index (BMI) | 153 |
| 7 | Bio-thesiometery | 76 |
| 8 | Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) | 14 |
Medical camps are crucial, in a way that health examinations and tests at the early stages of the illness can help to cure it faster and save a life before it can cause any damage. One can live longer and healthier only when the individual gets the right kind of health check-up, screening, and treatments. Even the most basic check-ups can identify underlying illnesses. The provision of free medical camp is extremely helpful for the poor population who earn a meager income and cannot afford expensive healthcare services offered by hospitals or clinics. SACHET’s efforts were greatly appreciated by the populace of Gagri and the neighboring areas, who requested that such camps be hosted on a regular basis.
