Ponty Chadha Foundation -Seeking Answers to Some Long-Standing Problems

Despite being one of the largest exporters of pharmaceuticals, India continues to harbor healthcare issues especially among rural communities. With incidences of disease appearing to be twice in rural areas as compared to its urban counterpart, the people of rural India are denied access to basic and apt healthcare.

Waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, hepatitis, worm infestations, measles, tuberculosis, whooping cough, pneumonia, respiratory infections, and reproductive tract infections dominate the morbidity patterns in rural areas. Moreover, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, blindness, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS are simultaneously proliferating at an alarming rate.  Seeking answers to some long-standing problems and realising the need to improve the prevailing health status in rural areas nationwide is Ponty Chadha Foundation, the CSR arm of the Wave Group, which has been making efforts to plug some of the known gaps to rural healthcare. In collaboration with a reputed healthcare service provider, the Indo German Hospital, the Foundation has been bringing the poor and marginalised to the centre of healthcare policies.
 
The Foundation has already covered several villages including—Gujjargarhi, Dinanathpur, Shadipur Chiddoli, Hathipur, Mehrauli, Shekhpur and Khichra, where it conducted health camps to boost the quality of life of its beneficiaries.

Health Camp Observations: 

1. It was found that a majority of the rural populace is faced with common health concerns such as -respiratory issues, cataract, arthritis, low vision issues, and hearing impairment. 
2. A major chunk of womenfolk overlook their reproductive health due to sheer negligence or lack of family support.
3. Majority of them overlook health concerns either due to utter ignorance or lack of healthcare facilities. 

About Ponty Chadha Foundation:

Rural healthcare is one of the key areas of social welfare undertaken by the Ponty Chadha Foundation, the CSR subsidiary of the Wave Group. Under Vice Chairman Manpreet Chadha (Monty Chadha) the Wave group has gone on to become India’s leading realty conglomerates.

Hathipur’s Health Camp Report by the Ponty Chadha Foundation

One third of the Indian population, and most of its poor, resides in remote areas across the nation. Malnourishment and deplorable hygiene conditions give rise to chronic ailments and its ill-effects are disproportionately witnessed in the poorest of rural areas in our society, with an evident rise in illness and mortality rates.

Out of all forms of disparities prevailing in our society, inequality in healthcare is undeniably the most inhuman one. Out of sheer ignorance and lack of dedicated infrastructure, the health centres in rural areas (if any) are minimally staffed and lack even the basic diagnostic equipment.

Identifying the fact that the rural populace is forced to deal with their own share of larger, and often unrecognised, health problems, Ponty Chadha Foundation collaborated with the Indo German Hospital and organised a health camp in one such village- Hathipur. It was found that villagers here had never received due medical assistance in any form. Thus finally, the health camp, organised on 18th March, 2015, benefited most of them. The event took off early in the morning as the villagers started queuing up at 10:00AM by the primary school in the village, where the camp was set up.

The propulsion at the health camp was steady since the early hours of day and as expected, the third consecutive medical camp at Hathipur drew a good assemblage till the camp finally concluded at 1:00PM in the afternoon.

The entire village was comprehensively covered and a total of 155 patients from 400 families were examined during the camp. Every villager was guided through a common check point where they had to show their registration details prior to seeing the doctor. During checkup, it was found that majority of them were prone to joint and gastro problems. Those who needed extended treatment were referred to the Indo German Hospital.

While the dedicated team of doctors ensured that the villagers were thoroughly examined and guided about the imperativeness of health and hygiene, other volunteers ensured that the villagers could make the best of the opportunity. As a result of their collective efforts, the event went by systematically.

It is rather surprising to know that women in the village ignore problems related to gynecology due to lack of knowledge and understanding and support from their family members. However, the medical professionals and the Ponty Chadha Foundation’s volunteerseducated them about the imperativeness of healthcare and the long-term effects that could aggravate due to sheer negligence.

Duriyai’s Health Camp by the Ponty Chadha Foundation

Despite being one of the largest exporters of pharmaceuticals, India’s healthcare statistics continue to be a nightmare. Medical assistance is still out of reach for over 700 million people. Though several government policies and programs are afloat, their true effectiveness is questionable in the dearth of any tangible improvement on the ground level. Apparently, ever-widening gaps on the implementation front continue to make the country’s performance in healthcare domain shoddy, to say the least.

Recent case studies point that the number of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) is limited; 8-10 % of these centers fail to staff sufficient doctors, around 39% of them still lack laboratory technicians, and 17-18% of them do not even have a pharmacist. 

One such village is Duriyai, which faces a severe lack of healthcare facilities. 

In a bid to sensitize the locals of Duriyai about basic precautions against general ailments, the Ponty Chadha foundation, in collaboration with the Indo German Hospital, organized the third consecutive health camp at Duiryai. Held on the 11th of March, 2015, it started off at 10:00 AM and lasted until 1:00 PM. The sheer enthusiasm and active participation of the villagers was truly commendable- a total of 152 patients from 400 families benefitted from the camp. 

Motto-driven volunteers from the Ponty Chadha Foundation and a team of dedicated doctors from the Indo German Hospital wholeheartedly contributed to the initiative and saw the camp off smoothly. Seating arrangements were made at the Baithak (common meeting point of the villagers) which was spacious enough to accommodate a healthy turnout.   

Majority of attendees had problems pertaining to joint pain and hearing impairment, for which they were immediately treated. However, those who needed extended treatment were duly referred to the Indo German Hospitable for a detailed check-up and follow-up treatment. In an interaction with the residents waiting for their turn to see a doctor, it came out that people often neglect their health problems, especially women who ignored serious troubles pertaining to gynaecology. The camp thus gave the locales a chance to treat persisting ailments, for which they could never seek medical attention before.  

Considering the overall scenario, which might have turned out to be disastrous in long run prospects, doctors and volunteers of Ponty Chadha Foundation sensitized the villagers on the imperativeness of their healthcare. 

About the Foundation 

The Ponty Chadha Foundation is a charitable trust established in the memory of the late Mr. Ponty Chadha of the Wave Group. The Foundation is active in areas of special education and early childcare and currently has Mr. Manpreet Chadha (Monty Chadha) as the Vice Chairman.

Fostering Health Care In Usmangarhi: The Ponty Chadha Foundation

With the objective to make health care more accessible across rural areas nationwide, the Ponty Chadha Foundation has been conducting a series of health camps aimed at helping the poor with free medication and guidance. 

In collaboration with the Indo German Hospital, the Foundation organized its third consecutive health camp in the Village Usmangarhi where a total of 181 patients from 400 families were thoroughly screened for different health disorders.

The camp, held on 25th of February 2015, started at 9.30 in the morning and continued on until 1.00 pm in the afternoon. A sizeable assemblage was seen queuing up from early hours, which was managed together by volunteers of the foundation and hospital. Apart from conducting basic health check-ups, the camp referred cases requiring advanced diagnostics to the Indo German Hospital. 

The event was held at the Pradhan’s place which provided enough space for a healthy turnout. A pre-check process was set in place for the patients to get themselves registered before waiting for the doctors. They were issued OPD cards carrying their name and age which were later on used for prescribing medicines. 

With their OPD cards with them, the patients were handed medicines from a separate counter. Upon interaction with the villagers, it was learnt that lack of awareness and unavailability of medical facilities were major roadblocks preventing the villagers from pursuing timely treatment. 

Finally, in a short educational session and interaction with the Usmangarhi’s residents, they were sensitized on health, hygiene and sanitation which would help them in keeping chronic and acute infections at bay. 

The Ponty Chadha Foundation is a charity foundation, and the CSR wing of the Wave Group. This foundation has been dedicatedly working towards making quality health care affordable and accessible ever since its inception.  

Festivity in the air at Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan’s 16th Annual Day celebration

An aura of mirth and festivity filled the auditorium as the differently abled children of Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan took centre stage with their energetic performances. “Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai”, this year’s theme not only was at the heart of entire celebration but it also underlined the guiding principle of the school. The students rolled out exhilarating performances which and a flurry of extended applauses greeted them. 

Presence of the Delhi Waveriders Hockey team, Captain of DWR and Indian hockey team - Sardar Singh, Mr. Kartikay Saini- Chairman of The Scottish High international school, Air Marshal K. Malik- Director Special Olympic-Delhi, Dr. J.P. Singh- Chairman Amity Foundation for Developmental Disabilities and Former Member Secretary & Executive Head-Rehabilitation Council of India, and Mr. Pramod Sharma- Director cum Principal- Genesis Global School added charm to the event. 

After the breath-taking performances, children were spotted sharing some cherishable moments with Sardar Singh and the other team members of DWR. They did not miss a chance to take their autographs and expressed their gratitude by presenting hand-made hampers.     

The celebration did infuse pride in MBCN’s principal, Ms. Vandana Sharma, who praised her students for their strong and positive approach towards life. She congratulated all of them on their hard work and participation in the event and encouraged them to keep the same gusto up in life. Adding on, she asserted that this cultural programme gives them an opportunity to come together and generate significant positive change and build momentum for their ongoing efforts.  

Established in the year 1999, MBCN is a school for differently abled children that has been working for their rehabilitation and social independence under the aegis of The Ponty Chadha Foundation, which is the CSR arm of the wave Group. Ponty Chadha Foundation dedicatedly works towards progression of the impoverished and brassic stratum of society.

Ponty Chadha Foundation Walks the Talk on Rural Healthcare

India has 70% of its population coming from rural sectors and a majority of them don’t have free healthcare access. Consequently, this segment of the country relies majorly on aid coming from the govt., NGOs and charities.

Additionally, India spends only about 4.2% of its GDP on healthcare which strains out its healthcare landscape. It is because of all these reasons that villages like Kuriagarhi are reeling under lack of healthcare avenues.

The village was recently a part of a drive held by Ponty Chadha Foundation aimed at boosting rural healthcare which saw a health camp being hosted within the village providing the villagers with an opportunity to access free health check-up and medication.

Things started off early at 1000 hours as enthused villagers started queuing up at the allocated point where registrations were being held. Volunteers from the Ponty Chadha Foundation along with doctors and paramedics from Indo German Hospital ensured every attendee had their name and age put down on an OPD card to be used for recording diagnosis.

It was found during the examinations that the village showed a high percentage of cases of hypertension and joint pain. Upon interaction with the villagers, it was learnt that most of these cases were the result of lack of medicare options and knowledge about treating early symptoms.
Some of the attendees had to be guided to the Indo German Hospital where they will receive advanced care and diagnostics.

Anticipating a huge gathering, volunteers of the Ponty Chadha Foundation had made arrangements for crowd control and management. A registration kiosk was set up to control the proceedings as the villagers waited out their turns to see the doctors.

A short session on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment was also held where volunteers of the Foundation urged the villagers not to procrastinate medical help.  By 1300 hours, all the attendees had been examined and tended to.

Ponty Chadha Foundation is the CSR wing of one of the biggest business conglomerates in India, the Wave Group. The Foundation is active in areas of special education and early child care and has Mr.Manpreet Chadha (Monty Chadha) as the Vice Chairman.

Mehrauli Health Camp by Ponty Chadha Foundation

Continuing with its ongoing drive aimed at spreading awareness on healthcare, the Ponty Chadha Foundation held a health camp on January 6, 2015 in one of the villages facing lack of healthcare facilities, the village of Mehrauli in Delhi NCR.

The Foundation was aided by the Indo German Hospital which assisted by sending teams of doctors and paramedics to the location. The camp saw people queuing up as early as 10 AM so that they could get themselves enrolled for the check-up.

Anticipating a huge turnout, volunteers of the Ponty Chadha Foundation had made arrangements at the local school premises. As a part of the registration process, the attendees were asked to record their names and age down on an OPD card which was then used by the doctors to record their diagnosis and prescribe medication.

It was found during the examination that there were a number of people with mild symptoms of heart and skin issues who were administered aid and provided medicines. Some of them who needed advanced diagnostics were referred to the Indo German Hospital for further aid.

On interacting with the gathering, it was also learnt by the Foundation’s volunteers that many women had developed signs of impending gynecological problems but would not seek consultation owing to lack of awareness and options. Majorly, most patients showed signs of heart and skin issues.

The free health camp acted as a curtain raiser for the people of the village. It helped them understand the importance of getting treated on time through early diagnosis. Many of the villagers also received free medication.

All in all, the villagers got their fair due from the camp.

Ponty Chadha Foundation is the CSR arm of one of India’s largest business conglomerates, the Wave Group. Under Vice Chairmanship of Mr. Manpreet Chadha (Monty Chadha), the group has expanded its CSR activities into the spheres of special education, food fortification, and rural healthcare.