Every life member of Indian Orthopaedic Association has taken a pledge to perform at least one free surgery for a deserving patient, marking the National Bone and Joint Day falling on August 4.
Speaking to media persons here on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association president R. Sivakumar said every year, the association observed August 4 with a theme.
Last year, the theme was road safety. ‘One member, one free surgery’ had been proposed as the theme for 2016. In Tamil Nadu, there were over 1,500 members, and in Madurai Orthopaedic Society 110 members. It had been planned to perform free surgeries on deserving patients from August 3 to 5.
Performing surgeries on such a massive scale would bring in awareness at the national level and it was also aimed at creating a world record.
Apart from this, the members had planned to deliver talks on prevention aspects, to conduct special camp for osteoporosis detection and management at Government Rajai Hospital on August 4 and to organise a walkathon in the city on August 6 which was expected to be flagged off by Minister Sellur K. Raju.
Senior doctors P.V. Pugalenthi and M.N. Karthick said on Wednesday alone, six surgeries were performed on the poor and deserving patients by the association members in the city.
By involving people from all walks of life, the walkathon would create awareness of the need to follow dos and don’ts in day-to-day activities.
The rising levels of patients getting admitted in trauma care wards was not a good sign and prevention would become reality only when different stakeholders came together, they said.
The number of youths turning to hospitals due to drunk driving or rash and negligent driving was alarming. Doctors alone could not check the trend and a concerted effort by all sections of society could bring about the desired results, they noted.
Talks, medical camps and walkathons were also planned to mark National Bone and Joint Day on Aug. 4
