Asomese laud SHM for trend setting service

Itanagar, Feb 12 (UNI) With an aim to foster better relation between Asom and Arunachal Pradesh, a day-long medical camp has been organized at Tetonbari in Dhemaji district of Asom.

The camp was yesterday organised by Siang Health Mission (SHM), an NGO working in health sector, in association with Surabhi Sahitya Sabha (SSS).

The camp was organized to cement the age-old relation between the two sisterly states by sharing the grief of the Asomese, who have contributed immensely towards the socio-economic development of Arunachal Pradesh.

''Glimpse of a doctor in a remote village is rare. However, getting treatment and medication from them is even rarer,'' commented a 70-year-old daily wage earner Dil Bahadur Pradhan, at the camp.

''Never before has such treatment been organized by any NGO in this part of Asom,'' said 80-year-old freedom fighter Man Mohan Dey.

Over 1,500 poor and needy villagers, who thronged the camp returned happy with medicines prescribed by the specialists. As much as 30 cartons of medicines were distributed freely among the patients, informed Dr Moji Jini, camp coordinator, adding that the number was three times more than expected.

''Almost all the patients had genuine problems unlike other camps where many come for no reasons, Dr Jini said, while appreciating efforts of SSS to allow only genuine patients to attend the camp.

The patients included 80 operable cataract cases, 139 dental cases mostly having gum problems, 130 child cases and innumerable cases referred for advanced treatment. However, the paupers cannot afford any private treatment, he added.

Dr Suranjana Chaudhury, a Harvard-trained scientist conducting research in the fields of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other communicable diseases, came all the way from Kolkata as part of her research work. Impressed with the SHM's objective to promote and sustain good health and prevent and cure illnesses in the society, she had desired to join the NGO as a member, SHM sources added.

The consultant specialists included - surgeons Dr KK Dey, Dr Emi Rumi and Dr Moji Jini, eyespecialist Dr Reto Doye and Dr K Darang, skinspecialist Dr Bommi Riba, dental surgeons Dr Tumbi Lollen, Dr Lala Wage and Dr Gekar Loyi, gynaecolotgists Dr B Mala, ENT specialist Dr C Nirmali and Dr Joydeep Dey, General Medicine Dr H Nara, child paediatrician Dr T Zirdo, medicos T Laling, Rebia Begum, I Basar, B Talukdar besides SHM members Er Talem Taboh, Tapir Tamut, Ibom Ete, Nioltpal Chaudhury and Anjan Deka, sources added.

UNI