Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350740200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Medical camps to be organised for children in orphanages

Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE: The volunteers of Youth Helping Hands, (a network of college students who work for the welfare of children living in orphanages) along with the students of the PSG Medical College, plan to organise free medical camps for children on a regular basis.

The first camp was conducted recently in which more than 37 children from an orphanage were screened for health problems. Many of them were diagnosed with scabies and some of them were anaemic. The children who had such problems were treated free of cost and given medicines and personal hygiene kits.

“Many of the children in orphanages are not aware of the importance of personal hygiene. With the prices of medicines having gone up, providing timely and quality health care to the children have become one of the challenges faced by orphanages now,” said R. Arun, president of YHH.

Through periodical medical camps, the network aims to make healthcare accessible to all children living in orphanages. Regular follow up camps would also be held to ensure that the children were taking their medicines. The PSG Hospitals had pledged its support in conducting the camps.

In addition, YHH had conducted programmes for children on Christmas day, giving them gifts including new clothes and sweets. The members had also brought together volunteers from Canada.

Orphanages that need help and organisations that wish to contribute some funds to YHH can contact R.Arun, a student of Music College, R.S.Puram, at 9345559815/ S.G.Suryah, first year BBM student at PSG College of Arts and Science and general secretary of YHH at 9789219412.