'Udham NGO': From blood donors to life changers: The inspirational journey of 'Mission 365 Days, 365 Patients'
PTC Web Desk: Udham NGO's mission, aptly named 'Mission 365 Days, 365 Patients', embodies a commitment to making a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of those in need. In a remarkable journey that began in 2010, Dr Sanjeev Kamboj, a dedicated student then who was pursuing his BDS degree at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a group of like-minded friends embarked on a path less travelled. What started as a simple act of kindness to donate blood to a stranger in dire need transformed into a profound mission of compassion, now known as 'Udham NGO'.
The spark that ignited this remarkable journey was the fateful moment when an opportunity to help a patient in need of blood arose. Dr Sanjeev Kamboj, along with a few friends, made their way to the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) in Chandigarh. Little did they know that this act of goodwill would become the cornerstone of a non-political initiative that would change countless lives.
From that day forward, Dr Sanjeev Kamboj and his team began compiling a database of willing blood donors, complete with their blood types and contact information. This database became the foundation of Udham NGO, a name chosen to pay homage to the brave freedom fighter, Shaheed Udham Singh.
Udham NGO's mission has now extended far beyond blood donation. Every month, the team members gather outside the PGI gates to provide not only blood, but also blankets and warm clothing to patients, offering solace to those suffering in the chilling cold. Their altruistic reach has no bounds.
Dr Sanjeev Kamboj shares that once they got a chance to help a coma patient in desperate need of brain surgery when no one else could. Thereafter, they never failed in their mission and resolved to take it forward, helping all those in need. They started organising seminars and awareness programmes in colleges and universities, spreading their message across more than 25 cities. They formed teams, organised camps, and educated the masses.
Notably, Udham NGO's commitment to the community is not limited to medical assistance alone. They have also embraced environmental causes and plant saplings on a regular basis. Bone marrow donor registration camps are also organised at intervals, besides providing wheelchairs and tricycles to physically challenged individuals, thereby recycling second-hand equipment that would otherwise go to waste.
Their compassion extends to animals as well, with a dedicated Udham NGO team rescuing and caring for them. They reach out to the destitute, providing them with the care they need and ensure they found their way to hospitals or ashrams.
Udham NGO's free ambulance service is above and beyond. It has ferried over 100 deceased to their final resting place so far, besides helping patients to reach hospitals on time, regardless of distance and without charging a single rupee.
Udham NGO also contributes in constructing homes for needy families and send medical teams and supplies to regions in need. They also take the financial burden of students from patient families, covering school fees, clothing, and stationary.
Their celebration of birthdays, Diwali, and New Year becomes an occasion to bring joy to cancer patients, offering them new clothes and shoes. They provide monthly groceries to patients and families, ensuring their well-being.
Regular medical and dental checkup camps are also organised, and the NGO has established three charitable dental clinics, a chemist shop, and a laboratory in different cities, ensuring healthcare is accessible to all.
Not stopping there, Udham NGO encourages entrepreneurship, enabling patients to open food stalls and create employment opportunities. During the challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic, they supplied oxygen concentrators, BiPAP machines, and organised langar services for over 200 days.
But perhaps the most heart-touching of all their initiatives is their "365 Days, 365 Patients" mission, ensuring that every single day, they provide medicine to those in need, delivering it personally to their doorsteps.
- PTC NEWS
