Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC), a US-based relief organization organised four day free health check-up cum awareness camps for poor and needy in Barabanki District of Uttar Pradesh under its annual Indian Health Initiative (IHI) which concluded on Tuesday, February 23rd.Over 1500 patients were examined during the four day long medical camps who were also provided with free pathological tests, X ray and free medicines.Every year, IMRC assemble team of doctors from the United States to volunteer for the health camps to provide medical care to economically poor patients, who otherwise would not be able to afford the high cost of treatment. In its seventh consecutive year, under Indian Health Initiative (IHI), the medical camps are organized for three weeks in semi slums and rural areas of different states to target the most deserving patients. This year 10 US based NRI doctors with different specialties will provide free medical services. They have backgrounds in internal medicine, family medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery, geriatrics and emergency medicine.
“Three months ago, I slipped while walking on the road. Being poor, I went to local govt. hospital where doctors treated me for fractured arm but I used to feel the excruciating pain everyday till I came in this camp. Here doctors confirmed after the X ray that I don’t have any fracture and there was some limitation with my arm muscles,” said Noorjahan, 70 from Village Ajganai, Barabanki.Dr John Rosenberg, Physician who has been volunteering for the health camps since IHI inception said, “In last four days of medical camp, I came across three patients of active Tuberculosis whom I referred to specialised government hospitals. Most of the patients coming here are having pneumonia, anaemia besides having abdominal pains due to drinking unsafe water.” “I saw hundreds of young patients with infection in lungs, stomach and skin. Also we had some patients with seizures,” said Dr M Kamil Ahmed, Paediatrician, volunteering for IMRC’s IHI.
“There were varieties of patients in this health camp. Many of them had upset stomach, indigestion, joint pains, short breaths and also some emphysema patients who smoke a lot. There were around 10 patients with serious pulmonary diseases,” said Dr M A Gafoor, Internal and Family Medicine, volunteering for IMRC’s IHI.Manzoor Ghori, Executive Director of Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC) said, “Due to lack of access to medical care, poor population of this country is at the receiving end of getting diagnosed at the final stages of diseases. With these health camps we are also making sure those poor patients apart from getting the medical treatment also open up to the preventive care of treatment.”From February 26 to 29th, free medical camps will be held in Hyderabad and from March 3rd to March 6th 2016 in Kerala.