The first medical camp of the ninth annual India Health Initiative (IHI), a program created by US-based India Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC) to provide medical services to economically disadvantaged members of society in India has started on January 27 in Hyderabad, Telangana. A total of 709 patients were treated for different ailments on the first day of four-day health camp at the Indo-US public school in Baba Nagar.IMRC has been organizing annual India Health Initiative for poor and needy this year for the past nine years.The patients in the camps are provided with free medicines after free check-up of vital health signs.On Sunday, January 28, the free health camp will be organized at Indo-US Public School Shaheen Nagar, Mustafa Nagar on January 29 and Kishan Bagh on January 30th.The ninth annual initiative sees 15 doctors from the USA: Dr. Jawad Ahmed (General Physician), Dr. Irfan Moin (Geriatrics), Dr. Jerome Stefenko (General Surgeon), Dr. John Rosenberg (ER Physician), Dr. Farida Ghogawala (Gynaecologist), Dr. Mohammad Gafoor (Family practice), Dr. Sabiha Gafoor (Pediatrician), Dr. Moustafa Abouelkheir (Surgeon), Dr. Jowairia Qadri (Gynaecologist), Dr. MK Ahmed (Paediatrician), Dr MY Ahmed (Surgeon), Dr Sana Ahmed (Paediatrician), Dr. Mir Mumtaz Ali (Internal and Pulmonary medicine),Dr Mohammad Haq (Internal Medicine), Dr. Reshma Mohiuddin (General Physician), Dr Noureen M Haroon (Ophthalmologist) and Shaheda B Ahmed (Pathologist) who will render their services at four camps in Hyderabad, then in Assam and Manipur.
The India Health Initiative was started by IMRC in 2010. Since its inception, IMRC has successfully conducted eight India Health Initiatives comprising of medical camps across different rural areas, poor localities and slums in India. This annual program is unique because it provides basic education in healthcare with an emphasis on preventive health care to the community, and provides technical training to the local doctors and medical students.“IMRC has always been concerned about the health of people belonging to poor rural areas and those living in slums under abject poverty. This annual programme since last eight years has been targeting such population, who can’t afford health care. Every year we organize this camp and treat thousands. Last year we were able to treat 4,380 patients in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.In 2016 we treated 5,775 patients in Kerala, Telangana, and UP,” said Manzoor Ghori, Executive Director of Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC).“This all becomes possible due to the US-based doctors who volunteer themselves for this noble cause,” he added.