Health is a privilege denied to
many. While in theory, there shouldn’t be any demographic or racial divide in
access to basic amenities and social services to the citizens of a nation, things
play out very differently in India.
The rural-urban divide in the
country continues to pit a huge disparity between the general health and
wellbeing of the populace. While on one hand, modern amenities and medical
facilities are increasingly improved for city dwellers, access to even basic
healthcare and diagnostics is difficult for the rural public. And, as most of
India –or most of its poor—live in the villages, dearth of qualified medical
functionaries and basic healthcare infrastructure continues to be the biggest
challenge that thwarts growth of the nation.
Identifying this national concern, the
Ponty Chadha Foundation has set
about making a change at the grassroots level. In a series of healthcare
initiatives taken up by them to increase the outreach of medical facilities to
the underserved, a health camp was organized at Village Dinanathpur in
collaboration with the Indo German Hospital, on November 19th.
Starting off at 1000 hrs. morning, the camp saw a huge crowd turn up with as
many as 121 patients from 300 families undergo examination until 1pm.
The Foundation had its experienced volunteers
working together to avoid any pandemonium. The huge playground of the village
government school was let out to provide ample room for the patients to be
comfortably seated while they awaited their turn. Separate registration,
check-up and medicine distribution counters were setup to further systemize the
operation. A patient would have to first obtain a token number and get their
name and age registered on the OPD card; then, they would wait for getting
examined, following which medicaments from the dedicated counter could be
collected.
The doctors at the camp did a
thorough check-up after which a few cases were referred to the Indo German
hospital for further diagnostics and treatment. They also spread awareness
about safe sanitation practices and its importance in general well-being.
The doctors said that most complaints
pertained to respiratory problems and joint pain which could have been
well-addressed with timely treatment. This message was passed on to the villagers
and was evidently was well received.
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