Medical Camp for B Ward Sanitation Workers

A two-day deaddiction and cancer screening camp was held for sanitation and sewage workers of BMC’s B Ward, at the ward office, on December 21st and 22nd, 2022. This was a joint project by Rotary Club of Bombay and Rotary Club of
Addiction Prevention.

Workers who provide sanitation services to any of our big cities lead a tough life. Rotary Club of Bombay President Vineet Bhatnagar says, “They provide an invaluable and essential public service that is key to safeguarding not only the environment but also the health of citizens, and keep working despite a lethal pandemic, devastating floods, or any other calamity. But most of the time they have no government policies or comprehensive health insurance to take care of their health needs.”

Most workers face health risks including cancer and heartrelated problems, vascular diseases, paralysis due to stroke, and lung illnesses due to chewing tobacco, smoking and consuming alcohol. Compared to the general population, the incidence of tobacco and alcohol consumption in this group (sanitation and sewage workers) is as high as 51 per cent.

The target group chosen for this comprehensive project which included education and awareness, counselling and screening for different kinds of ailments such as hypertension, eye defects, diabetes, high sugar levels, low hemoglobin due to iron deficiency, and various kinds of cancers, was 675 sanitation workers in solid waste management from the Byculla and around area of Mumbai.

Rotary Club of Addiction Prevention President Dr. Nilam Gada adds that 125 of these were women and tobacco addiction was found in many of them. Alcohol addiction was more common among the male workers. Education remained the main focus of the project and at the camp it was explained to the addicts that substance abuse had the danger of causing cancer and other serious complications.

Women were taught selfexamination for breast cancer and to watch out for signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. Cancer screening involved looking out for oral cancer by visual examination, breast cancer by manual palpation and Pap smear test was done for cervical cancer. Medication for deworming, iron and calcium supplements as well as ultivitamin tablets along with eye drops, spectacles, tablets and cream for pre-malignant lesions were provided to the entire group for 1–3 months.

About the results of the screening of the 675, 30 per cent had high blood pressure and 25 per cent had elevated sugar levels, but despite that very few were on medication required for both these conditions. About 40 per cent
had low hemoglobin levels and they have been given multivitamins and iron tablets.

It is heartening that apart from Rotarians, 20 Rotaractors from RCB were also deeply engaged in the execution of
the project, helping with crowd management, filling forms, assisting the doctors and more.

The project will continue with follow-ups for deaddiction for 6 months and also referring patients to counsellors either in person or tele- consultation services for free. Rotary was felicitated by the Assistant Commissioner of B ward for this mega medical camp conducted for the workers of the ward.