Fundus Camera - March 2026

 The RHC took a step forward in healthcare with the commissioning of Remidio Pristine 5.0 widefield fundus camera. Pristine 5.0 - Widefield Fundus Camera

We get a large number of patients with Diabetes and Hypertension. Retinopathy is a well known complication of both these diseases. 

The prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy is almost 22%. Early detection and treatment are the cornerstones to minimise severe vision loss and blindness. 

 Till now, we were using Ophthalmoscope (Fundoscope) to view the Retina. Though we were able to pick up a number of Retinopathies, we also missed quite a few.

The Pristine 5.0 with its wide FOV is able to pick up more such early disease. In some patients, we have been able to share the image with Ophthalmologists for a second opinion. 

A lot of gratitude to a good friend who made it possible to buy this equipment.

Cake cutting at the Installation and Commissioning 

 

L - R: Dr Shalini, Dr Kamakshi, Dr Kartik, Venkatesh (Optometrist), Dr Anandhi

Raghavendra (Remidio), Dr Kartik, Venkatesh, Hari (Installation Engineer)

Pristine 5.0

                                                                                                                                                                            

 
                      The first patient.                                               The image as captured on the I Pad

A New Ambulance

After much searching, talking to people etc we honed in on a new ambulance - FORCE MOTORS BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE.
(NB. For those interested please read the National Ambulance Code - AIS 125)
A generous donation from the Kudva Family (many of whom have studied at Rishi Valley) more than met the cost of the ambulance.
Life saving equipment - Multipara monitor, Automatic External Defibrillator, Suction pump etc have been ordered. Once they come the ambulance will be fully fitted out to take care of any emergency.

The interior

The ambulance has already been put to use

A 65 yr old lady had a fall at her home in the village. Clinically she had had a fracture of left hip. She was taken to Madanapalle and has since been operated

Being transported through the village

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Solar Photo Voltaic Power

Cheers to the sun!!!
Thanks to a CSR initiative of Coal India, the RHC got a 10 + 2KW off grid PV electric power system. We are now totally off grid and have been able to sustain all our operations on Solar Power.
The Rural Education Centre also has a off grid PV system installed.
This system ensures uninterrupted power as well as savings on electric costs.
Some pictures below

The staff

Signage

The PV Panels

We have a new Doctor

Dr Ramesh, a paediatrician, joined us from the 01st of January. His presence has made adefinite and positive impact on the quality of health care for children. His wife, Jyothi teaches English at the Rishi Valley School and we hope that he will be with us for a long period of time.

A NEW LOOK HEALTH CENTRE

Its been a while since I have blogged - heh! heh! vacation and all that. After getting back, there was the usual flurry of work, in getting the HealthCentre ready for another year. There have been changes both in terms of infrastructure as well as staffing - No I or my wife have not runa away!

First of all - in the adjoining photograph you can see the extended roof. We cannibalised old GI and Asbestos Sheets to cover our frontage.

Now patients waiting have a shade over their heads and the roof came in just at the right time. We completed the work in the first week of June and promptly thereafter it rained - Boy did the patients bless us for providing them with shelter.

Secondly we got two additional rooms - a Registration room and a room for us to consult in with a modicum of privacy. Oops - sorry no photograph of our consulting room. There are separate sections for the pharmacy, accounts and we have even managed to add a single bed as a DAY CARE/EMERGENCY ROOM.

All this has made the patient flow much easier and there seems to be no rush or hordes of patients peering over ones shoulders to see when their turn comes.

Promise you more photographs as time goes by.