TURA: Free health check up and screening, IEC activities on maternal & child health, causes and prevention of Tuberculosis, MHIS and other health schemes, besides awareness and screening for anaemia for the adolescent children were conducted during the day-long Health Mela organised by the District Health Society at Bolonggre-B, Kalaichar in South West Garo Hills on Friday.
Hundreds of beneficiaries from Bollongre B, Bollongre A and surrounding villages of Kalaichar availed free check up and screening as well as medicines free of cost for various ailments during the Mela. The check up was conducted by the district and also from Tura, including homeopathy (AYUSH) doctors.
The highlight of the Health Mela was the felicitation of best performing PHC/CHCs, best staff nurses, best supervisors, best ANMs and best ASHAs from across the district. The certificates along with cash awards were given away by South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ramkumar S during the inaugural function.
In his inaugural address, the Deputy Commissioner underscored the importance of Health and Education which forms the basis of any society and if these two sectors were not taken care of no society can ever flourish, he said.
He was happy that the organizers chose remote village like Bolonggre instead of nearby, easy to reach places to hold the Mela as it would serve the purpose of reaching the unreached in extending free health services to the deserving beneficiaries. While commending the performance of the health facilities and functionaries in the district, the Deputy Commissioner urged upon them to continue their good work and give 200 % effort to their job as the work they do is close to divinity and assured that handsome rewards would be given next year to the best performing PHCs/CHCs particularly in institutional delivery.
Ramkumar also made a fervent request to doctors while seeing patients to give the first 2-3 minutes for their patients to talk about their problems. “Just by listening to them you solve at least 50% of their problem”, he said and said that they should spend next 2-3 minutes to talk to the patients about healthy habits which would go a long way in preventing diseases.
District Medical & Health Officer, Ampati, Dr. K. A. Sangma, SDMO & District Immunization Officer, Dr. Calvaryn R Sangma, District Program Manager, NHM, Ampati, Shirley Sangma, Medical Officer i/c Belbari, the winner of Best Performing PHC Award Dr. Nokanchi Momin, winner of Best ASHA award, Hemalia Marak and Nokma of Bolonggre B were among others who also spoke on the occasion.