Indian Health Camp of NJ - IHCNJ held Health Fair at Durga Temple in S.B.

On Sunday, September 7, 2014, a health screening and disease awareness and prevention fair was held at Durga Temple in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Indian Health Camp of New Jersey, a non-profit organization under tax exempt code 501© (3) and Durga Temple jointly collaborated this health camp for the second year. The health camp was open to all pre-registered participants above the age of 45 without medical insurance.

Attended by more than 100 participants, the services included in the health fair were blood test, EKG, physical examination, dental examination, cancer screening and prevention education for prostate, breast, cervical, colo-rectal cancer and oral cancer, eye screening, pharmacy counseling, patient education on stroke and diabetes, dietary counseling and physical therapy counseling. Approximately 10 physicians in various specialty areas of internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology and other specialties and two dentists provided their service on this day to screen and educate patients on diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, high cholesterol, various cancers, oral diseases and other chronic debilitating diseases. The New Jersey Commission for the Blind staff provided eye screening for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataract to qualified registered participants on this day.

The medical personnel from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Ritesh Shah of DrugSmart Pharmacy in Keansburg, volunteers from SATHI for stroke and diabetes education, Rite-Aid pharmacy, Middlesex County Health Department and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – NCADD were among the booths set up for providing free counseling and education on chronic diseases and dependency. The EKG technicians, phlebotomists, nurses, medical students, pharmacists, social workers and other allied medical professionals provided their services to support physicians for the health screening and disease prevention and awareness effort during this medical camp. Pooja and Anjali Patel, two young high-school volunteers provided patient education on “Take Charge of your Heart Health” by explaining the importance of eating right for heart health, moving and exercising for healthy heart to avoid long term complications and live healthy life-styles.

Rupen Patel of Accurate Diagnostic Labs, South Plainfield sponsored the blood test service on this day to approximately 100 pre-registered qualified participants. The blood test reports will be reviewed by the physicians and mailed to all participants with counseling note, if any abnormalities are detected in the test. IHCNJ dedicated medical and non-medical volunteers and committee members along with Durga Temple volunteers and many student volunteers provided their self-less and dedicated service on this day for more than six hours. The temple management supported this event by providing resources and volunteers to set up the health fair, breakfast and lunch for everyone during the health camp. The event was very well organized and well received by all participants and community. To date, approximately 7,200 people received the screening since the inception of Indian Health Camp of New Jersey in 1999.

IHCNJ last health fair for 2014 is scheduled on Sunday, November 9, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 200 Penhorn Avenue in Secaucus, New Jersey. The flu shots will be given to all pre-registered qualified participants on this day. To register for this health fair or further information on IHCNJ activities, please visit organization web site at www.IHCNJ.org . IHCNJ is also planning to schedule free mammogram for women and prostate screening for men in collaboration with New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJ-CEED) in Middlesex and Mercer Counties in October and November 2014. For further information on these screenings, please contact Dr. Tushar Patel, President of the organization at 848-391-0499 or e-mail tpatel434@yahoo.com.

By: Dr. Tushar Patel, President -IHCNJ