From time to time the medical wing has been launching Health Awareness Campaigns throughout India and in Nepal. The main aim and objectives of these campaigns was to create awareness for better health and to eradicate all negative habits that are creating diseases in the society. In these campaigns, the approach taken was direct communication with people and educating them through posters, lectures and street plays. Throughout these campaigns doctors and paramedical staff from all over the country have given free services in the common cause of re-establishing a healthy and happy world.

THE FIRST HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The first of its kind, this campaign was started on 27th Feb 1988, at Mysore and concluded on the W.H.O. Day, the 7th April 1988 at Delhi. The six-week campaign was carried out in sixteen states of India, covering 421 cities and villages. Five groups of doctors of various specialties along with nurses and paramedical personnel began the campaign from five different places-Mysore, Trivendrum, Bhuvaneshwar, Amritsar and Bombay, in vans equipped with health awareness exhibitions, films, projector slides, health check-up equipments and medicines.

As part of the campaign, several kind of services were done at all levels. Special efforts were made to take these services, to rural and backward areas. A total of 281 villages were visited to provide health benefits. A total of 105 health care camps were held to provide complete health care. Health care camps were arranged at schools and for handicapped children. Practical demonstrations were given on how to prepare oral re-hydration solutions.

Moral education was one of the aims of this health campaign. Many children came forward and talked about their personality problems. Children were taught how to develop leadership qualities and to overcome inferiority complexes. They also took an active part in small workshops on the inculcation of values. Medical check-up camps were held at 141 places and free medicines were distributed. More than 575 lectures were delivered at various places. In all the five states, the health ministers or the governors of the respective states inaugurated the campaigns. The Indian Medical Association and its branches in various states and cities provided all the cooperation for organizing programs and camps.