Several government agencies and other partners united to organise a free mega health camp in Thadlaskein block of West Jaintia Hills, where same day test and treat for a range of health conditions became a reality for hundreds of people.
This free camp was organised at the North East Adventist University in Khliehtyrshi village today. This was the first of its kind health camp in Meghalaya where quick and state-of-the-art diagnosis became a reality in a field setting for various diseases using RT-PCR technology. Linkage was also facilitated for treatment under the relevant government-run programmes on the same day.
DV Lyngdoh, Additional Municipal Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills; Dr Helen J Uriah, District Maternal and Child Health Officer; Dr Brightstar Langbang, Block Development Officer of Thadlaskein; Shiva Sriram, vice-president of Molbio Diagnostics; and Dr Darivianca E Laloo, general manager of Molbio Diagnostics, addressed the opening ceremony.
“Thadlaskein block where this camp is being held has poor access to health services for people living in hard to reach areas. This block also has the lowest vaccine or immunisation coverage and maximum number of children aged 2-5 years who have not been immunised with measles Rubella vaccine 1 or 2,” Dr Uriah said. “It is important to note that all the people who have been mobilised by the Block Development Office and self-help groups are able to get a wide range of healthcare services at one place.”
Sriram, of Mobio Diagnostics, makers of the RT-PCR test system used, said that the collaboration of government and other sectors was “extremely essential and should be adapted and replicated across the country in order to reach as many people as possible and take healthcare closer to the patients.”
Some of these partners included NEIGRIHMS, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, West Jaintia Hills District Medical and Health Office, district administration, community groups and international NGOs (Rotary Club of Jowai, Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics).
“It is for the first time in India that a free comprehensive health camp where all vertical healthcare programmes have converged together on a single point of access,” Sriram said. “Vaccination for children and adults, diagnostics both for routine screening and highly specific tests for specific diseases, linkage to care, treatment, medicines, medical consultation, counselling and a wide range of other healthcare facilities are being provided together.”
Other modern medical tools included MobMon, a handheld ECG machine; Prorad, a battery operated x-ray machine; and Thermolytix, a breast cancer screening device.
To ensure continuum of care, all those diagnosed with a range of conditions were linked to respective government programmes under the National Health Mission (NHM), such as those for tuberculosis, HIV, maternal and child health, etc. Medicines were provided on the site as well for some of the diseases, along with counselling for nutrition, adolescent health, sexually transmitted infections, TB, HIV, malaria, cancers (breast and cervical) and other related issues.
An integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC) van equipped with dual testing kits for screening of HIV and syphilis, was also deployed onsite to provide information about HIV prevention, counsel people to undergo testing, and also link the positive people with treatment, care and support systems.
