A health camp for people with various physical ailments is being held today in New Delhi’s New Sikkim House for people from Sikkim. Started on the initiative of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, the camp has 76 patients from Sikkim. The 76 people include, 22 woman, six very old people and one child. The camp is being conducted by a team of health workers under the guidance of Dr. M. P. Gandhi. DKK Bhawan incharge Neelam Rasaily is also actively volunteering in checking the patients.

Dr. Gandhi told that this camp has been planned with the idea that everyone should have access to good health and well being. This is the first of its kind health camp and there are plans to set up such camps once in a month. This is a kind of screening camp in which patients would be referred for further treatment, if needed. Some patients have already been referred to specialty hospitals like Escorts and Apollo.

When asked if there was need to organise such screening camp at all for screening purpose? Dr. Gandhi said that most of them have been screened but this camp is set up to confirm what has been referred to.

Tulman Rai from Sujachin in East Sikkim is a worker of the ruling SDF party. “We went to meet people at their homes in various localities in far and remote areas. We enquired if they were able to meet the expenditure of treatment and then brought these people. Two persons have been referred from each constituency. Some more patients have come because of their critical situation”, said Tulman Rai.

B. B. Rai from Malli in south Sikkim said that they have come in teams by rail. The expenditure of the journey was covered by government. How would have been if these facilities are made available in Sikkim itself? “Sikkim is a small state and not much health infrastructure is there. In such a case we better have such options for treatment. Sikkim has benefitted greatly from its merger in India. There are enough funds for welfare schemes.” Sikkim Resident Commissioner Arvind Kumar said that the government will bear all the expense of treatment as well.

Buddha Bahadur Rai from Rinchepung in West Sikkim is a farmer and a member of the ruling SDF party. His son 9 year old U. L. Rai has got serious itching in his foot. “I got him to doctors but there was no satisfactory treatment there. I was informed on 28th about this health camp. So, I brought him here for treatment.”
G. D. Koirala from Rabong in South Sikkim has toothache. When asked if it was necessary in case of a toothache to come to Delhi? Koirala said that, since two persons from every constituency could come and this camp was organised on a very short notice, not many people were able to come. There will be many others who will benefit from such camps next time.

 

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