Sleight of hand

“The most common injuries suffered by the rural population are burn injuries. This is followed by birth deformities (fused fingers,extra fingers),cerebral palsy,spasticity and old,neglected injuries. So,the camps we conduct,which have been spread over Chalisgaon,Jalgaon,Jalana in Maharashtra and Raipur in Chattisgarh,have primarily dealt with such injuries; all of them have been operative camps,” informs the surgeon who has fellowships in hand surgery from France,the Grand Rapids,Michighan and Louisville,Kentucky.

In this unique pursuit of his,Dr Jindal has received crucial help from two other well-known surgeons,each specialising in his own field. Along with Dr Shankar Subramanium,a plastic surgeon attached to Wadia Children’s Hospital,and Dr Yelikar,another plastic surgeon from Aurangabad,Dr Jindal has been working day in and day out,collectively performing more than 50 surgical procedures in one camp,spread over two days,with no agenda in mind except to heal old wounds and no flag post to reach except to conduct the camp selflessly.

At the first camp held six years ago,in Jalna,one of the volunteers Baldev Punshi was so inspired by the work the doctors had been doing,that he invited Dr Jindal and his colleagues to Raipur,Chattisgarh. “With the local doctors already having sorted out patients – according to those who need surgery on a priority basis,as girl child,male child,adult female,adult male and so on,the next two days are spent conducting operative procedures on a multitude of defects. These range from deformities due to burns and injuries,babies born with multiple thumbs,absent thumbs,curved forearms and fingers fused together in a single mass like a spoon,patients waiting for plastic surgery on face and neck,” says Dr Jindal.

Though an evidently busy time,the good doctor looks forward to these camps and is planning several more camps during the course of the year. “What makes it worthwhile is the amount of happiness which is reflected on the faces of the patients,some of whom have been long-suffering and have old,neglected wounds or deformities. Though they are unable to express their gratitude,it’s obvious from their smiling faces and that’s what drives me on,” says Dr Jindal.

“Conducting a successful surgery is not just about relieving physical pain. It means so much more,like giving a girl child a chance at marriage,creating a means of livelihood,bringing hope to a hitherto bleak future and an improved quality of living,” he adds.