Teaching people to save lives
Over 10,000 people were trained in administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) through Heartbeats, an initiative of the Rotaract Club of Medicrew, RID 3141. It was a nationwide endeavour where special camps were organised in Delhi, West Bengal, Mumbai, Mangalore, Baramati, Sambhajinagar, Rajkot, and other cities and rural areas. Around 200 volunteers from the club trained the public in this life-saving technique.
The project’s main aim was to create awareness among the public on how to respond effectively in emergencies. “We want to empower individuals to perform CPR confidently and competently, thereby increasing survival chances in cardiac emergencies,” says club president Dr Jessica Gupte.
The club, chartered in 2020 by Rotary Club of Bombay Pier, has 4,000 medical and paramedical students as its members. The club is present in nine other countries, including Russia, Philippines, China and USA. “Our service projects are focussed on providing healthcare to the community, even in the remotest areas. We also place strong emphasis on the personal and professional development of our members,” she says.
The club, in collaboration with the Wadia Hospital, Jan Kalyan Yojana and Vasti Parivartan, conducted breast cancer screening and awareness campaign over three months, reaching out to over 250 women in 36 slums of Mumbai. “We sensitised people about the rising prevalence of breast cancer and educated them about affordable diagnostic services and government welfare schemes such as Jan Kalyan for women. We also taught them self-examination techniques for detecting breast lumps and recognising warning signs.”
Around 80 volunteers, including students from MBBS, BDS, BPTH and allied health courses, participated in the screening camps. Experienced doctors also participated in the camps, overseeing mobile screening units in ambulances. “The ambulances were installed with specialised equipment, including X-ray and thermal imaging technology which were all used for screening patients for free,” says Jessica.
in a slum.
During the last Rotary year, the club had done around 370 service projects including 100 health camps. Under Project Samruddhi, six camps in locations such as government schools and slums in Kandivali and Charkop screened 1,000 people for hypertension and diabetes. Medicines were distributed onsite.
Under Project Haathon ka Sankalp, 80 Rotaractors visited schools, orphanages and old age homes, engaging a total of 1,000 people across 15 sessions on handwash and hygiene. Ten blood donation camps across Mumbai saw 900 people donate blood under Project RaktDaan.
The club has introduced the ‘LGBTQIA+ Avenue’ this year where a series of impactful events were launched. Debates, podcasts and seminars promoted understanding, empathy and inclusivity to create a supporting environment and challenging stereotypes in the society.
Personal growth
Activities were designed for the personal growth of the club members. Ten delegates from the club participated in a national medical exchange programme at the MGM Hospitals in Chennai. The delegates was given an opportunity to choose a specialty of their interest, allowing them to tailor their learning experience to their career aspirations. Students from across India came together to explore various medical specialties, enhancing their practical skills and knowledge during a week-long observership programme. Participants delved into obstetrics and gynaecology, medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and emergency medicine, gaining invaluable firsthand experience in a dynamic hospital setting. The programme gave the students a chance to witness procedures and engage with seasoned professionals.
‘Tete-a-Tete with Bioethics’ is a podcast programme being run by the club for the fourth year this year. This series disseminates crucial bioethics information globally via Spotify, reaching audiences in over 17 countries. “With over 250 per cent increase in listeners, a 370 per cent rise in total streams, and new entries into New Zealand and Peru, our podcast now boasts a presence in every continent!” smiles the club president.
