Community Based Medical Education

Orientation Camp: Orientation camp for new admissions to the 2010 batch was held at the Sevagram Ashram from 15-29 June, 2010. The students were oriented in Gandhian values and their relevance in medical education, Sarvodaya Vichar, the code of conduct of the Institute, nutrition, self- help, spiritual health, nature cure and yoga.

Social Service Camp: The Social Service camp for the 2010 batch of medical students of MGIMS, Sevagram was organized from 3-16 Oct, 2010.  MGIMS, Sevagram has an old tradition of adopting a village for each batch of medical students.  For the 2010 batch of medical students the village, Chaka Majra, from PHC Anji of Wardha district was adopted.  This village is situated at a distance of 20 Km from Sevagram and 12 Km from Wardha.   The total population of the village was 855 and the total number of households were 221. Each student of the 2010 batch was allotted 3-4 families for their camp activities and follow-up activities for the next 4 years. During the camp, blood investigations for Hb, TLC/DLC, sickling, eosinophilia, micro-filaria and urine investigations for albumin and sugar was done for the family members. The blood and urine investigations were carried out for total of 746 villagers (87%).  More than three-fourth population of the village was found to have anemia, 9 had sickling and 5 had microfilaria.  One person was found positive for urine sugar, while 12 people had traces of albumin positive in urine.   Stool examination was done for 736 (86%) villagers.  Out of the total stool samples examined, parasitic infestation was found in 69 (9.3%).  The break-up was as follows:  E histolytica – 14 (1.9%); G lambia – 50 (6.7%). All persons with abnormal investigations received free treatment.

Daily general OPD was run by the Department of Community Medicine.  A total of 530 patients availed the benefits of the General OPD.  Specialists from each specialty from MGIMS, Sevagram also provided specialized services at the camp site in the village.  Total 934 patients were treated through the specialist OPD.  A total of 131 patients were referred to Kasturba Hospital Sevagram for free treatment.  

Health education of the villagers was done at household level as well as the community level. A health exhibition was also organized in the village in the building of the Government Primary School.

Activities held during the camp:

  • Adoption of families among the students
  • Health education at family level 
  • Health education at community level 
  • Health exhibition
  • Blood and stool investigations of all the villagers 
  • Provision of curative care through general OPD and specialist OPD 
  • Immunization drive in the village to cover 100% children
  • Social mobilization activities
  • Tree plantation
  • Promotion of soakage pits and kitchen gardens
  • Organization of ‘Health baby, Conscious Parents’ competition
  • Dietary survey of 65 families in the village
  • Lecture classes for volunteers 

ROME Camp: Reorientation of Medical Education (ROME) camp for 2008 batch students was organized from 21– 30 Dec, 2010, at RHTC, Bhidi.  Medical students of 2008 batch were posted for 10 days training at RHTC, Bhidi.  They were provided clinical demonstration of the association of social & environmental factors in health and disease at family level.  The students also understood the treatment seeking behavior of the villagers. Visits were arranged to subcenter, PHC, Rural Hospital and Anganwadi so that the students could see the health care infrastructure available in rural India. The students carried out small surveys in the community and analyzed and presented the data during the valedictory session thus equipping them with survey technology, data analysis, and report writing. They also provided health education in the schools of Bhidi. The students were divided in small groups for participatory learning of various National Health Programs.  

Students were provided training in ‘data management through computers’ as part of the ROME camp.  Students also analyzed data collected by themselves on various issues of public health importance on computers using EPI INFO 6. 

Interactive sessions on special theme of “Life Skills” and “Communication skills” and “Management tools” were organized during the ROME Camp.  The students actively participated in the interactive sessions.