Sai volunteers find fulfillment helping ETHAN with med camp

[Guest guest]

Sai volunteers find fulfillment helping ETHAN with med camp

 

ETHAN will follow up with 'guests' who went thru Med Camp

 

By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

 

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr LOCAL VOLUNTEERS like Lion Penny Gingrich

assisted with screening tests at ETHAN's free medical camp last

Saturday.

 

 

Medical Camp at the Community Church in Jasper spilled all over the

sanctuary, the offices and classrooms, and out into the parking lot

on South Wheeler this past Saturday.

 

ETHAN (East Texas Health Access Network) was still compiling numbers,

but several hundred residents took advantage of free health screening

open to all.

 

Medical professionals from the Sathya Sai organization assisted

doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists and volunteers from many

organizations in East Texas in performing a number of screening tests

and procedures.

 

Carlene Womack, founder of ETHAN, said the medical camps help detect

problems- often before symptoms appear- and can save both lives and

thousands of dollars by preventing chronic conditions from

escalating.

 

" We call the people going through the camps our guests, not patients,

because we recognize that they are not sick. They are doing something

to be more healthy, " said Sai Ganesamoorthi, one of the volunteers

from Dallas.

 

The first checkpoint for guests was height, weight and blood

pressure, and a finger prick to check blood sugar, cholesterol and

sodium levels. Advanced screening was available for cholesterol

problems.

 

All guests were treated nutrition counseling specific to their blood

test. Nursing students from Stephen F. Austin State University

demonstrated food portions. People with too much sodium, for example,

were shown what to look for on product labels, and how to make wiser

choices for meals and snacks.

 

Each guest also had a foot exam that checked for sensitivity with a

needle prick.

 

" Diabetes and obesity are such problems now, " Ganesamoorthi

said, " and foot problems go along with those conditions. "

 

A portable bone density scanner checked for osteoporosis. The dental

exam included a fluoride treatment if cavities were detected, and the

opportunity to set a follow-up appointment with ETHAN's mobile dental

van.

 

Volunteers from the local Lion's club assisted with an eye exam. Lion

Claude Durham, past district governor from Livingston, explained that

the Lions were also collecting used eyeglasses which are cleaned and

refurbished in Midland before being sent all over the world to assist

the needy.

 

For women, the medical camp offered free breast exams.

 

Lillie Robinson of the Jasper Newton County Health Clinic was pushing

free flu shots and offering information on immunizations for children

and adults. She said shots at the clinic are just $5, with or without

insurance.

 

After all the screening, each guest consulted with a doctor or

pediatrician to be sure they understood the results of the tests and

to answer any questions.

 

Anyone regularly taking prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs had

the opportunity to go over their medications with a pharmacy

specialist.

 

The camp also offered benefits counseling for those who needed

financial assistance or transportation to medical facilities for

follow ups.

 

Shyam Kanagala, one of the leaders of the Sai organization, says

their group believes in putting into practice what they learn in

Sunday school, " Love all, serve all, help all and hurt never. We are

like one cell in the body, each individual, but we serve the whole. "

 

Manny Mistry, another Sai member, said this is the fourth medical

camp they have conducted this year, but that Jasper is like coming

home.

 

" We came here after the hurricane and kind of adopted this area. We

love working with these folks, " Mistry said.

 

The Sathya Sai organization says they do their work " not on behalf of

any exclusive religion... not on a mission of publicity for a sect or

creed or cause, " but as a duty and obligation of love.

 

" Without love, nobody would want to do anything. This medical camp is

merely an excuse for sharing of love, " Kanagatha said.

 

sourced: http://www.jaspernewsboy.com/news/2007/1205/News/042.html

 

Sai Ram

 

Deepak

http://www.ssso.net/