Health program
Volontariat has always given priority to a good health, on a holistic approach. Prevention of diseases through immunization and sanitation is a thrust. Extensive medical care has also been one of the most significant features of our work.
Several dispensaries are run in our centers, but the main one is the dispensary of Selvanilayam. A Doctor in charge and qualified people are permanently at the disposal of the patients (children, aged people, staff, etc). They generally treat ailments like abscess, fever, dysentery, diarrhea, sprains, muscle cramps, fungal and other skin infections. Information and nature of any intervention are loaded in specific computer software; a file is created for each patient.
For many years, the Doctor attached to Volontariat was giving only allopathic medicines, and specially used and abused antibiotics for children, even from crèche and KG, to cure any flu, headache…….. So in the late nineties, it was decided to go on homeopathic treatments and also herbal medicine. The health of the children has much improved now. An “English medicine treatment” is done when the other treatment do not work or in case of urgency.
Doctor and nurses go regularly to the dispensaries of Sakthi Vihar, TTK farm and OM Shanti and any time when there is a need.
A special chapter of the website is dedicated to the programme heart operations at Sri Ramachandra Hospital and, from 2006, also at Vijay Hospital (Pondicherry heart Foundation) by Dr Balakrishnan and his team. From 2000 to end of 2006, 54 children were operated, out of them only 3 died after operation. 1 adult died before operation. The Volontariat has regularly organized special free camps, on its premises, for children suffering from heart malformations, for eyes or teeth problems; people come from far to consult the doctors and many cases have been screened and operated after.
In 2005, a French dentist surgeon visited Volontariat and decided to help us to install, in the main dispensary, a modern dental surgery. A part-time dentist comes for 2h, 4 times a week, to check the teeth of the sponsored children, aged people, staff, etc, to repair, to give counsel for a good prevention of tooth decay. The next step could be the development of orthodontic treatment.1 year after the opening, more than 400 people have been treated and follow-up is made for hundreds of children.
Prevention of illness and promotion of health are managed by providing: nutritious food, good clothing and effective education.
Proper treatment and immediate referral to specialized medical centres is done when necessary, specially for cataract operations, leprosy rehabilitation centre, alcohol di-addiction programmes, etc.
An evaluation of 2000 families i.e. 10000 people are covered in the health care programme of Volontariat. Promotion of health consists in treatment and prevention.
