Health on wheels - Mobile health camp for poor

“…There was extreme financial constraint in my family, yet I went to several doctors for my treatment of various age-related sufferings and complications spending lot of money, but I didn’t get myself cured. After receiving treatment through MMU free of cost I am feeling 90% well. Not only that many poor people of the area are also getting benefit through this mobile medical service. I am highly obliged for such service provided by Sabuj Sangha with the support of State Government ….”says Mr. Bibhutibhusan.

The Sridharnagar Gram Panchayat (GP) is a completely isolated island of Patharpratima Block situated on the mouth of Bay of Bengal. The island is highly geographically vulnerable as natural catastrophes are very often; and people of this island are susceptible in terms of health & education facilities, electricity, drinking water and other basic amenities. There are only three villages in this GP, Rakhalpur is one of those villages and the area is totally detached from the main land.

Mr. Bibhutibhusan is 84 years old a resident of Rakhalpur village, has three sons and one daughter. He has three bighas of cultivable land and his sons are engaged in paddy cultivation, which is the only means of earning for the family. They live in a mud-made thatched house and the family is in Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. Bibhutibhusan, at this age cannot work; few years back he was attacked by cerebral thrombosis but somehow he escaped from danger. He had eye related complication, couldn’t see properly and feeling pain in his both the eyes. After few days he started feeling severe ach in his head, neck, both the hands and legs also in spinal cord. His weaknesses were increasing rapidly and at this stage it became difficult for him to move even survive.

His sons were too busy with cultivation, couldn’t find time to take their father to doctor. On the other hand financial constraint was also another hindrance for treatment. One day he borrowed some money from one of his neighbor who took him to Popular Medical Hall at Kakdwip for treatment. He was treated there for more than a month but was not cured. Again he made contact with the doctor of another medical hall at Diamond Harbor, treated and provided medicine but he didn’t find any improvement of his health condition. At this stage he became extremely frustrated and hopeless due to his acute sufferings.

One day he knew about the Mobile Medical Unit (Camp) operational in his village once a week, where free treatment with medicinal support is available. He attended the camp, was examined by the doctor and he took medicine with advice. Gradually after about a month, Bibhutibhusan started feeling better about his health and he wondered, about 90% of his complications had gone away gradually. Presently, he is happy enough about his health, can move alone and want to continue treatment in Mobile Medical Unit run be Sabuj Sangha supported by Health Department of State Government.