Jai Vakeel Foundation

“When will you come back?”

These were the words that echoed through the rooms from the parents as the last of the cars of a team of doctors/therapist and other experts drove out of the compound that had hosted a medical camp over the last 2 days at Dhule. Over 450 children with neurological disorders were seen by this medical team who come twice a year from mumbai.

One such story is that of Mandakini whose father Nitin Chanchad from Bhagne has been attending the medical camp for her treatment since 12 yrs. When Mandakini was brought to the camp she had just come out of a 3 year coma which left her completely bedridden. Proper medication, and Physiotherapy sessions helped a lot to improve his daughter‘s condition. Nitin continues medication and therapies at home post the medical camp visits. He thanks the Medical camp team and SSA workers for providing the regular medicines, services and timely guidance. Mandakini is today active and now admitted in school.

Over the last 11 years, we have reached out to 6,846 children like Mandakini in Dhule, many of whom might have otherwise not received proper intervention and remained undiagnosed and untreated.

Jai Vakeel Foundation and the Neurology Department of B.J. Wadia Hospital for Children, under the leadership of paediatric neurologist Dr. Anaita Udwadia Hegde began conducting rural medical camps in 2010 to serve children from rural interior areas of maharashtra, who have no access to any basic medical care, neurology being a distant dream. There was no facility to treat disorders such as fits & seizures, movement disorders, autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and she felt that providing early diagnosis interventions was critical to support the immediate and long term development of these children. 

From 2020, these camps have been jointly organised by Jai Vakeel Foundation & Kamal Udwadia Foundation in collaboration with multiple stakeholders such as Annam, AOCN, Ekam Foundation, Wadia & NH SRCC Hospital.

The medical camps are run by a team of 30 volunteers that include doctors and other professionals from Mumbai's leading hospitals. All their services are free of cost. 

The camp is similar to running a hospital. The medical camp team conducts medical investigation and prescribes the treatment plan, provides therapeutic interventions, free medicines and nutritional supplements for 3-6 months. Free MRIs, EEGs are provided including splints, wheelchairs, crutches, anything that they may need to become independent. If any child needs high-end surgeries, we also bring them into Mumbai and we get surgical procedures done in leading hospitals. 

Over the years, parents come back because their child's epilepsy is cured, they have started walking, their speech has improved, they've started going to school and are now included into society where in the past they were excluded and isolated at home. 

This year the camp will be held on 1st and 2nd December, 2023 at Dhule and we urgently need your support to raise Rs. 10 Lakhs for the camp.

Without your support, children at Dhule and other neighbouring districts will be deprived of timely medication and therapy that they need desperately.