Medical Camps Research Articles

Health among Slum Children- A Sociological Study of Chennai City

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Child health is the purview of pediatrics, which became a medical specialty in the mid-nineteenth century. Before that time the care and treatment of childhood diseases were included within such areas as general medicine, obstetrics and midwifery. A slum is a densely populated urban area and characterized by low standard of living. The rapid urbanization and increase in population resulted in the depletion and degradation of natural resources. Industrial expansion lead to the increase in the job potential in large cities, which attracted the rural population to migrate to cities and further converted the cities into a major slum and concrete jungles. Numbers of slums are increased in metropolitan cities due to acute shortage space for housing. At the same time, access to services like healthcare, fresh food, and basic sanitation may start to become restricted, creating filth and squalor. The present study titled Health among Slum Children- A Sociological Study of Chennai city has focused on the health conditions of Slum Children with three research objectives as (i). To find out the socio-economic background of the slum children in Chennai city, (ii). To bring out the nature and causes of health problems among slum children and (iii) To identify the types of health problems among slum children. The present study is descriptive in nature and tries to find out the nature and causes of health problems of slum children. The universe of the research is the total number of households of Ayothikuppam slum (1250 HH) and Saidapet slum (2220 HH). The total numbers of households are 3470. In order to have reliable data collection, the researcher has interviewed 50 slum children from the age group of 8-14 on the basis of convenient sampling method under Non-Random Sampling. The researcher has used interview schedule to collect data from the respondents. The findings of the study divulges that most of the slum children experienced diseases or health problems once in a month which are cold, cough and fever. During the illness time, 26% of the slum children were going to government hospital. 60% of the slum children are not having the habit of washing their hands before taking meals due to them play with friends and neighborhoods. 40% of the slum children are frequently affected by the fever like Malaria, Typhoid and 20% of the slum children were affected by cold and cough; sometimes it was in severe stage. The study has provided the following recommendations; i). Government has to provide formal education to the slum children and to guide them to go to school, ii) Government should take necessary step to clean the slum areas and near the Kuvam River, iii) NGO’s has to conduct more number of medical camps, awareness programmes about health and education to the slum children as well as their parents and iv) The government has to construct the public latrine for the slum areas.

Influencing Elements Impacting the Participation in Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women of Childbearing Age at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda

This research aimed to gauge cervical cancer screening participation and its influencing factors among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH) in Eastern Uganda. Conducted from January to April 2021, the study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design, surveying 370 WRA through pretested semi-structured questionnaires. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, presenting outcomes through tables, frequencies, percentages, and logistic regression analyses. Among the 370 respondents, merely 24.3% (90 individuals) had undergone cervical cancer screening. Of these, 14.1% had one screening, 7.0% had two screenings, and 3.2% had been screened three or more times. The primary mode of screening (11%) occurred during medical camps. Regarding awareness, 89.7% had heard of cervical screening, predominantly through radio broadcasts (41.0%), with 41.4% recognizing its purpose and 52.4% acknowledging its role in early detection and treatment. Furthermore, 94.3% viewed cervical cancer screening as a beneficial practice, with 81.1% advocating for other women to undergo screening, while 90% believed in promoting this practice. Culturally and religiously, the acceptance of cervical cancer screening was widespread. Demographically, most respondents (66.5%) fell within the 15-30 age bracket, with the majority identifying as Anglicans (33.8%) and 88.9% being Ugandan nationals. Educational attainment was predominantly at the secondary (37.0%) and tertiary (39.2%) levels. Regression analysis indicated that being Anglican significantly influenced the uptake of cervical cancer screening [OR=2.219(1.039 – 3.899); 95% CI, P=0.038)]. Despite increased knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer screening’s purpose, treatment, and associated complications, uptake remains below desired levels. Notably, a substantial number of women did not seek screening due to the absence of signs or symptoms and lack of advice from medical professionals, exposing a gap in primary healthcare significance. The study underscores the need for heightened health education across healthcare platforms to emphasize the critical importance of cervical cancer screening and encourage more women to partake in this essential preventive practice. Keywords: Cancer, Women, Cervical cancer screening, Pap smear test

CardiacEye foundation humanitarian medical camp for the welfare of local population in Kalar Kahar region

CardiacEye foundation humanitarian medical camp for the welfare of local population in Kalar Kahar region

Assessment of Pattern, Distribution, and Determinants of Ocular Morbidity among Residents Seeking Care at Medical Camps in Mathare Slums, Nairobi County, Kenya

Ocular morbidities are considered a major contributor of disabling conditions in both low and high resourced countries. The overall global burden of eye diseases is estimated at 61.4 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) which accounts for 4% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years. There have been strong institutional collaborations on attaining Vision 2020-right to sight, which is a global initiative aimed at reducing preventable level of blindness has enhanced institutional collaboration in fight against blindness. Some eye problems that affects people quality of life but do not result in blindness have been ignored in favor of those causing visual impairment. The residents of Mathare slums in Nairobi County, Kenya, seeking care at medical camps, were subjected to an objective eye examination aimed at ascertaining ocular morbidity patterns, causes, and distribution. A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study persons were patients over ten years who presented with eye-related constraints at the medical camps. The period of study range was between October and November 2022. Results were displayed using descriptions and visualization techniques after data was imported into Excel 2010 for analysis. Results on the pattern indicated a majority of respondents (34.44%) were diagnosed with conjunctiva diseases. This was followed by 30.29% being diagnosed with refractive errors, 11.62% with the cornea, and 8.30% with lens diseases. On distribution, Conjunctiva disease (34.44%) affected most of the respondents, and the majority of these respondents (19.5%) aged between 10 and 20 years affirmed to have atopic Conjunctivitis. A refractive error also commonly affected 30.29% of the participants, with Presbyopia (7.46%) comprising the highest form of refractive error. Cataracts (7.05%) and dry eye syndrome (6.22%) were more evident among patients aged above 40 years. Most of the respondents (43.5%) were found to have pathologies resulting from developmental causes, followed by allergies (24.1%) and refraction errors (10.4%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity in Mathare slum affecting 12.4% of the respondents; this was followed by peptic ulcer disease (5.4%), diabetes (4.6%), arthritis (2.5%), and lastly, HIV (0.41%). Results showed that ocular Morbidity in the Mathare slum was not associated with determinants like house structure material, number of house rooms, household population, and cooking energy source. It is recommended that health institutions within the Mathare slum and similar contexts be fully equipped with essential eye medications and integrate eye health education in the health facilities. Physical exercise, healthy eating, and medical approved supplements are also recommended to help prevent metabolic disorders and improve age-related eye disorders. Clinical control of existing comorbidities will aid in reducing some eye diseases like cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.

Navigating Thyroid Dysfunction and Comorbidities Among University Students in Abbottabad, Pakistan - A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Screening Tool for Thyroid Dysfunction.

Thyroid dysfunction has a direct role in diagnosing, and assessment and indicates the development of thyroid carcinoma. This study aimed to assess thyroid dysfunction through medical camps in different age and sex groups in students of Comsats University Abbottabad Pakistan. In this study, a cross-sectional survey design was used. For data collection, a two-day medical camp was set in the Comsats University Abbottabad campus. The students were examined physically for symptoms of thyroid dysfunction using the survey questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The current research revealed that 78 out of 1032 students, or 7.6% of the population, had thyroid disease. Although 39.3% (=406) were found to have low risk, followed by 36.7% (n=379) had moderate risk and 23.9% (n=247) had high risk of thyroid dysfunction. Altogether, 6.1% (n=63) of the students had high blood pressure (BP), 3.2% (n=33) had high cholesterolemia, 3.4% (n=33) had angina, and 0.9% (n=9) had diabetes mellitus (DM). In relation, students who exhibit signs and symptoms that last longer than five weeks include 42.2% (n=435) who felt the need for excessive sleep, 35.3% (n=364) who felt tired, 36.8% (n=380) who had trouble concentrating and 30.1% (n=311) who had palpitations. The high risk of thyroid being seen predominantly in students between the ages of 15-20 years (31.2%, n=148), as opposed to other age groups (p=0.001). Similar to this, women having a higher risk of thyroid disease (26.5%) than men (22.8%) (p =0.001). In conclusion, few students suffer with thyroid found to have high risk of thyroid disease. This method of questionnaire-based screening for thyroid dysfunction is cost-effective, with no additive risk of adverse effects from excessive screening, and could help in the early detection of thyroid and help avoid excess costs related to thyroid dysfunction and cancer screening.

Nutritional screening among paediatric indigenous population in Malaysia: a pilot study

Introduction: Undernutrition is a serious health problem in developing countries. The prevalence of undernutrition is deemed higher among the indigenous community in many developing countries, owing to their relatively lower socioeconomic status, lack of healthcare awareness and essential needs, as well as poor sanitation facilities. We aimed to assess the nutritional status among children within a single indigenous community in Kampung Gabai, Malaysia. Materials and methods: We conducted a pilot study on the nutritional status of the paediatric population of the Orang Asli community in Kampung Gabai by assessingtheir anthropometric indices during a medical camp, as this community had never been assessed before. Anthropometric indices were based on heights, mid-upper arm circumferences and head circumferences of 21 children aged between 2 to 14 years. Additionally, skin evaluation and otoscopic examinations were performed in the same setting. Results: The prevalence of stunting was 38.1% among the children in Kampung Gabai. The height-for-age Z score distribution of the children skewed slightly to the left in comparison to the World Health Organization standard. The midupper-arm circumferences and the head circumferences of children who were less than 5 years old were within the normal range. The children generally had normal otoscopic and skin findings. Conclusion: This preliminary study concluded that the prevalence of stunting is high among indigenous children in a single community in Malaysia.

Gatekeepers of Extermination: SS Camp Physicians and Their Scope of Action.

The role of camp physicians of the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS," military branch of the Nazi Party's Schutzstaffel) in the implementation of the Holocaust has been the subject of limited research, even though they occupied a key position in the extermination process. From 1943 and 1944 onward, SS camp physicians made the individual medical decisions on whether each prisoner was fit for work or was immediately subjected to extermination, not only at the Auschwitz labor and extermination camp but also in pure labor camps like Buchenwald and Dachau. This was due to a functional change in the concentration camp system during World War II, where the selection of prisoners, which had previously been carried out by nonmedical SS camp staff, became a main task of the medical camp staff. The initiative to transfer sole responsibility for the selections came from the physicians themselves and was influenced by structural racism, sociobiologically oriented medical expertise, and pure economic rationality. It can be seen as a further radicalization of the decision making practiced until then in the murder of the sick. However, there was a far-reaching scope of action within the hierarchical structures of the Waffen-SS medical service on both the macro and micro levels. But what can this teach us for medical practice today? The historical experience of the Holocaust and Nazi medicine can provide a moral compass for physicians to be sensitive to the potential for abuse of power and ethical dilemmas inherent in medicine. Thus, the lessons from the Holocaust could be a starting point for reflecting on the value of human life in the modern economized and highly hierarchical medical sector.

The impact of community medical camps on medical students and graduates' education.

To investigate the impact of volunteering at community medical camps on medical students' and graduates' clinical and soft skills, knowledge of community health, and future career goals. The cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from July to October 2020, and comprised medical students or trainees who had attended at least one medical camp in a community-based setting organised by any of the two non-governmental organisations who collaborated in the study. Responses were obtained through a self-reported online survey from the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25. Of the 52 subjects, there were 25(48.9%) males and 27(51.9%) females with overall mean age 25.4±3.8 years. Majority of the participants 35(67.3%) had attended a private first-tier medical school while 17(32.7%) had attended other local medical schools. Overall, 40(76.9%) subjects reported improved community knowledge, , 44(84.6%) had experiential learning and confidence in outpatient management, and 49(94%) had improved soft skills. Besides, 21(40.4%) participants agreed to have been influenced to pursue a career in primary care, and 25(48.1%) reported a direct impact on their choice of career specialty. Compared to males, females reported improved awareness and alertness (p=0.016), increased confidence approaching communities (p=0.032), and increased compassion towards patient care (p=0.047). Community-based medical camps had an overall positive impact on volunteering medical students.

Developmental differences in reported overparenting, autonomy, and glucose monitoring within a medical specialty camp context

Developmentally inappropriate and excessive parenting can manifest at higher levels in children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). A child’s age, level of T1D training, and time since T1D diagnosis have been associated with higher levels of developmentally excessive parenting (i.e., overparenting), lower rates of autonomy granting, and lower rates of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Utilizing a structural equation model, the present study examined these associations with data collected from a medical specialty camp (MSC) serving 262 youth with T1D. Respondents primarily identified as female (59.5%), were an average 13.83 years old, and had attended the MSC for an average of 3.72 years. Respondents had an average of 5.95 years since T1D diagnosis, an average of 2.62 years utilizing a CGM, reported checking their CGM data an average of 12.75 times per day, and an average of 12.02 parent CGM checks per day. As youth age increased, rates of overparenting decreased. Similarly, youth with more MSC experience reported lower rates of overparenting. Contrary to the study hypotheses, overparenting had a positive effect on autonomy granting. Finally, a negative relation was found between years with T1D and average CGM checks, consistent with the broader T1D literature where adherence to diabetes management tends to decline in parallel with youth experience level managing T1D.

Floods in Pakistan; are pregnant women at a greater risk?

Dear madam, The destructive floods in Pakistan have wreaked havoc, leading to increased mortality and morbidity rates among people. More than 1,100 people, including the excess of 350 children, have passed away, and the number is expected to grow [1]. The infrastructure is destroyed with no food or shelter. A halt in conveyance has made the necessities to life unattainable on people, and pregnant women are no exception. In Pakistan, about 500,000 pregnant women were affected by the 2010 floods, and 1.5 million women required emergency obstetric care [2]. Of the pregnant women during the disaster, 1,700 gave birth and hundreds suffered from complications during childbirth. Retained placenta, obstructed labour and fetal distress are some of the complications that pregnant women are at risk of during disaster. The scarcity of healthcare facilities and providers makes it difficult to manage maternal health problems, and delivery in these conditions often leads to maternal death [3]. The maternal mortality rate in Pakistan is 186 deaths per100,000, with rural areas having a 26% higher ratio [4]. Reproductive health is also affected by disasters through spontaneous abortion, birth defects, and low birth weight of babies [3] [5]. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women with various disabilities have suffered the most. Sometimes women cannot express their problems which may lead to psychological issues. In addition, delay in transport and medical help affect maternal mortality in rural areas. Pakistan has limited healthcare resources in flood affected areas, making it difficult for pregnant women to help. An obstetrics field hospital must be established with trained staff with concerning disaster protocols. An experienced obstetrician should be taken on board to assess the emergency and set-up of prerequisite healthcare resources. Social media, mass media and public campaigns should be popularized to put an impact on this topic. Furthermore, public awareness for both genders and setting up medical camps in remote areas might help. Telecommunication must be established with field operators in coordination with other disaster relief providers to initiate the need of medicines like folic acid and other vitamins. Portable ultrasound must be arranged. The usage of alcohol-based cleanser instead of water to eradicate contamination. The impact that floods have on lives of pregnant women is an issue that is not given much attention. More studies are required in this area to understand the full extent of the problem.

Design and analysis of smart assistive humanoid robot for isolated patients

ABSTRACT People across the globe witnessed the meteoric rise of the recently discovered coronavirus, which caught governments, healthcare systems, and civilisations off guard. Robotics, self-governing systems, and intelligent devices can contribute positively to a rapid epidemic. Smart assistive robots can help patients and healthcare staff in general and make the anticipation, containment, and exacerbation of coronavirus easier by highlighting the coronavirus burden on healthcare structures during a crisis. In this type of situation, a smart-assistive robot with aid capabilities is promising, especially for those putting their lives in jeopardy by interacting with ill patients in hygienic environments. By providing regular monitoring and patient assistance, the intelligent helper robot could assist in lowering the danger of illness spreading to others. Concerning the application this paper discusses, a robot with a wheeled base and a humanoid structure can aid isolated patients and connect wirelessly anywhere in the world (using the Internet of Things) with patients far away more effectively without any physical touch. The designed robot is incredibly light (approximately 7 kg) and easily transported to the appropriate location (any hospital or medical camp, for example). Its modular design allows quick assembly and disassembly. The robot can comfortably handle 10–15 kg of load on its holding plate. This study also explains the structural capability and method of directing the robot in an unfamiliar area using ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance, a camera module for real-time vision, and a Skype call feature that may enable doctors to keep tabs on a patient’s health.

Evaluation of Safety Measures at a Medical Summer Camp During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2 poses challenges for the safe delivery of a camp experience with a medically complex camper population. Multiple studies have investigated the effect of nonpharmaceutical interventions for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in traditional summer camp settings, but none in the medical summer camp settings. Our objective was to describe and evaluate the nonpharmaceutical interventions on SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate in a medical summer camp setting. This was a single-institution cross-sectional study conducted between June 2021 and August 2021 in a rural summer camp setting in upstate New York. Nonpharmaceutical interventions consisted of prearrival guidance on low-risk activities, obtaining negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction results within 72 h prior to arrival, adult SARS-CoV-2 vaccine mandate, universal masking mandate, small cohorts, daily symptom screening, and rapid testing on site. Primary cases were defined as an individual with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result of any type while at camp or 2 wk after departure from camp without any known exposure at camp; secondary cases were defined as cases from potential exposures within camp. Two hundred and ninety-three campers were included. Nine individuals were tested owing to potentially infectious symptoms while at camp. Thirty-four campers were tested because they arrived from a county with an a priori intermediate level of SARS-CoV-2 community spread. Zero on-site rapid tests were positive for SARS-CoV-2. We describe the implementation of multilayered nonpharmaceutical interventions at a medical summer camp during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Abstract Number ‐ 172: First‐in‐Human Experience: Route 92 Medical 132 cm FreeClimb 88 Catheter for Anterior Circulation LVOs

Introduction Direct aspiration thrombectomy of proximal anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (LVOs) with super‐bore catheters (SBCs, 0.088” ID) may result in improved first pass success, though their consistent delivery to the target occlusion remains challenging. We report the first‐in‐human experience with a novel full‐length 132 cm 0.088” ID FreeClimb ® 88 catheter (Route 92 Medical, San Mateo, CA, currently approved for neurovascular access), and its customized Tenzing ® 8 delivery catheter, for anterior circulation LVO acute stroke patients. Methods We performed a retrospective review of thrombectomy cases for proximal anterior circulation large vessel occlusions performed at three stroke centers from May 2022 through August 2022. All patients were treated using the Route 92 Medical 8F Base Camp® guide catheter, FreeClimb ® 88 catheter and Tenzing ® 8 delivery catheter in an off‐label fashion. Results Ten consecutive acute stroke patients with anterior circulation LVOs were treated. The median age was 71 (45‐91) and 6 were female (60%). The median presenting NIHSS score and ASPECT score were 17 (8‐24) and 9 (6‐10), respectively. LVO locations were as follows: two right carotid termini, three right M1 middle cerebral arteries, and five left M1 middle cerebral arteries. Three patients also had tandem occlusion/near‐occlusion of the respective cervical internal carotid artery. The FC88 catheter was delivered to the target occlusion with 100% success. The median time from groin puncture to catheter delivery to the target occlusion was 14 minutes (7‐35). First pass complete reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score, mTICI, of 3) was achieved in 9/10 (90%) patients (self‐adjudicated). Adjunctive therapy for a residual M2 occlusion was utilized in 1/10 patients. There were no adverse events or post‐procedural symptomatic hemorrhages. Conclusions Our first‐in‐human experience with a novel 132 cm full‐length super‐bore catheter (Route 92 FreeClimb ® 88 catheter) and its customized catheter delivery device (Tenzing ® 8) for aspiration thrombectomy of proximal anterior circulation large vessel occlusions demonstrated 100% successful delivery to the target occlusion, with TICI 3 first pass reperfusion achieved in 90% of patients.

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Sri Lanka

The Islamic banking system is a rapidly growing segment in the global banking industry. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a crucial element in the field of Islamic banking as it consists of responsibilities and accountabilities to the community. This study examined how CSR is practiced in Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) and its importance in Sri Lanka. The objective of the study is to examine the practices and importance of CSR practices in Amana Bank PLC and Al- Falaah (LOLC) PLC. The Primary data for the study were collected through interviews from selected branch managers and In-house Shari’ah advisers of the above IFIs. The findings of this study highlight the significance and the necessity of several CSR activities which are carried out by IFIs for the surrounding community, such as charity services, sponsorship, medical camps, educational assistance and social services. Interestingly, Amana Bank PLC has spent a higher amount for CSR activities relatively than Al-Falaah. In addition, it is directed for future research to study the comparison of CSR activities between IFIs and conventional financial institutions, and the impact of CSR on the society.

Syndromic surveillance system during mass gathering of Panchkroshi Yatra festival, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India

BackgroundThe health implications surrounding a mass gathering pose significant challenges to public health officials. The use of syndromic surveillance provides an ideal method for achieving the public health goals and objectives at such events. In the absence of published reports of systematic documentation of public health preparedness in mass gatherings in the local context, we describe the public health preparedness and demonstrate the operational feasibility of a tablet-based participatory syndromic surveillance among pilgrims during the annual ritual circumambulation- Panchkroshi Yatra. MethodsA real-time surveillance system was established from 2017-2019 to capture all the health consultations done at the designated points (medical camps) in the Panchkroshi yatra area of the city Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. We also surveyed a subset of pilgrims in 2017 to gauge satisfaction with the public health measures such as sanitation, water, safety, food, and cleanliness. ResultsIn 2019, injuries were reported in the highest proportion (16.7%; 794/4744); most numbers of fever cases (10.6%; 598/5600) were reported in 2018, while 2017 saw the highest number of patient presentations of abdominal pain (7.73%; 498/6435). ConclusionPublic health and safety measures were satisfactory except for the need for setting up urinals along the fixed route of the circumambulation. A systematic data collection of selected symptoms among yatris and their surveillance through tablet could be established during the panchkroshi yatra, which can complement the existing surveillance for detecting early warning signals. We recommend the implementation of such tablet-based surveillance during such mass gathering events.

Flood 2022 in Pakistan: Managing medical flood relief camps in a developing country.

Floods are the most common natural disasters in the world. Currently Pakistan is in an acute emergency situation due to the recent flood that occurred as a result of the monsoon rains in July-August 2022. Unfortunately, the country was already under an economic crisis and was just recovering from the COVID pandemic when this devastating calamity struck. Almost one-third of the country's land was affected, with millions of houses damaged and property lost. As the victims are displaced and local health units are flooded, their medical needs are being met through medical flood relief camps arranged by public and private sector welfare organizations. Due to a lack of disaster preparedness and policies, most of the healthcare workers are untrained to manage medical flood relief camps and are hence learning from experience rather than following any standardized policy guidelines. We did not find any guidelines for organization and management of a flood relief camp in previous literature. As natural disasters continue to cause mass destruction every few years, there is a need to devise policies and procedures for disaster preparedness and hazard reduction. This paper is thus an effort to provide the best possible delivery of acute health services in a developing country during and after a flood in the transit phase, while the government and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) help communities rebuild their health system.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies for Potential Outbreaks of Adenovirus Infection: Evidence From the Recent Incidences in West Bengal, India.

Recent outbreaks of highly virulent and pathogenic viruses such as COVID-19, monkeypox, and Nipah virus have prompted global concerns. Another threat has emerged in West Bengal, India, in the form of Human Adenovirus (HAdV), particularly affecting children and immunocompromised individuals. The DNA virus HAdV can cause respiratory, liver, renal, and neurological issues. Politically unstable areas with military and medical camps and refugee communities are at risk because they spread in densely populated areas. Due to its rapid mutation and dissemination, the virus represents a global threat. Although scientists have developed vaccines for specific serotypes of HAdV, their primary application is limited to military contexts. Antiviral and immunotherapy research is continuing, but treatment choices are limited. Public awareness programs and hygiene measures are essential to preventing a global pandemic. Governments should invest in healthcare infrastructure and diagnostics, and researchers should focus on developing vaccines and therapies. The West Bengal outbreak is a clear reminder that governments, healthcare professionals, and researchers must work together to control and prevent HAdV. To effectively comprehend and address this rising viral threat, it is imperative to engage in further research and documentation.

Potential for a 'second disaster in Pakistan: a wave of fatal diseases' - the outcome of the unprecedented floods and the role of climate change

Pakistan experienced a severe flood disaster recently in July-August 2022 due to incessant monsoon rains. It faced a similar scenario in June again this year (2023). The disaster, unfortunately, happened simultaneously when Pakistan was experiencing economic hardships and had only started showing signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Affecting about one-third of the nation’s territory, millions of homes were either damaged or lost forever due to the floods. As the affected population was displaced and local health units submerged, flood relief camps by public and private sector welfare organizations were engaged to meet the humanitarian requirements of the victims. Vector-borne diseases due to the floods alongside the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affected relief efforts. The majority of healthcare professionals were ill-prepared to oversee the flood-affected medical relief camps of that dimension due to the lack of set procedures and protocols, and they learned from their experiences as the situations unfolded. While the situation is still grave from the floods of the previous year, the same again occurring this year in June at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is still around the corner is certainly a matter of human health and environmental concern. As natural disasters wreak massive destruction every few years there, strategies and the set hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness protocols need to be ensured.

A retrospective study on clinical and epidemiological profile of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate patients admitted in a large Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre in West Bengal, India

Aim: The aim of this study is to observe the clinical and epidemiological profile of nonsyndromic cleft lip (CL) and/or palate patients admitted to a cleft care center in West Bengal from May 2021 to April 2022. Materials and Methods: A retrospective epidemiological study had been done by preparing a master data sheet to record the patient's data from a Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre in West Bengal. The study variables included were patient's age reporting at the hospital, type of cleft, sex distribution of patients, residential address of the parents, socioeconomic status through parents' education, occupation, and monthly income, and consanguineous marriage history of the family. Results: A total of 276 nonsyndromic cleft patients during the time period (May 2021 to April 2022) were considered. Among these, 164 were male and 112 were female patients. The mean age of patients reporting to this hospital on average was 13–18 months. CL with palate patients (62%) predominated than any other type and was mostly seen in male patients (69.59%); isolated CL (22%) cases were more in females (56.25%), whereas isolated cleft palate (16%) cases were seen more in males (62.79%); unilateral (77%) and left-sided cleft (67%) were found predominantly than bilateral cases (23%) and seen mostly in females, whereas bilateral cleft cases were more in males. Most of the patients belonged to North 24 Parganas District which is an adjacent district of Kolkata, and most of the families belonged to a low socioeconomic group, and interestingly, most of them had consanguineous marriage history (61%) with at least one generation. Conclusion: The results of this study provided that CL with palate type is more common among all types of clefts and predominantly found in males than females in West Bengal. The unilateral left-sided cleft is predominant among all other varieties. Most of the parents belonged to low socioeconomic status and are having consanguineous marriage history. We need to spread awareness among the public through ads and banners, social media, and medical free camps about the deformity of CL and/or palate and also possible preventive measures, make arrangements for free treatment among the CL and/or CL and palate population for better life of cleft patients and their parents.

Morbidity profile of migrant workers attending health camps in Bangalore urban during the Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: Global pandemic of COVID-19 resulted in a nationwide lockdown which affected the migrants in terms of healthcare service accessibility. This led to an increase in the prevalence of various morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess the morbidity profile of camp attendees in Bangalore urban conducted during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: During the pandemic lockdown, health camps were conducted in selected urban underprivileged areas of Bangalore city targeting the migrant workers and these records were reviewed and relevant data were analyzed. Variables included age, gender, residential address, occupation, and morbidity. Results: Among the 484 participants who had attended the medical camp, the youngest patient was 1 year old and the oldest was 75 years with a median age of 27 years (IQR: 20 – 35). The majority of the camp attendees were males (78%) and migrants (77%). Common morbidities noted were hypertension (5%) followed by musculoskeletal pain (4%). The other illnesses were anemia (3%), gastritis (2.5%), pre-diabetes (1.7%) and combined diabetes and hypertension (1.5%). There was no significant relationship between migrant status and the presence of any morbidity. Conclusion: Hypertension and musculoskeletal pain are the most common morbidity among camp attendees.