Vivekananda Kendra NRL Hospital resumes Mobile Medical Camps

GOLAGHAT: In the wake of Covid-19, Vivekananda Kendra NRL Hospital has been performing a unique role in serving the rural population surrounding Numaligarh Refinery and other remote villages of Golaghat district by conducting Mobile Medical Camps(MMC), thereby bringing health care to the doorsteps of the needy. The two MMC units of the hospital have resumed their services from 27th April 2020 after lockdown restrictions were relaxed; maintaining stringent protective measures such as social distancing, regular sanitization and use of face masks and PPE as per government guidelines. While one MMC unit is deployed in a nearby village, the other unit visits Numaligarh Refinery Marketing Terminal for Covid-19 screening of truck drivers and attendants, limiting daily registrations to 40 patients to avoid crowding. Villages covered till now include Ponka, Bishnupur Sewjpur, Rongbong-I, Rongbong-IV, Bormahari Pathar, Rangchali, Parghat-II. Any person found with high fever or other Covid-19 symptoms is immediately directed to a government hospital for further testing.

Mobile Medical Camps are a noble initiative adopted by VK NRL Hospital in the year 1998 with the support of NRL. It initially began with a skeletal set up of a doctor, a nurse and nursing attendant who visited nearby rural areas and provided free medicine and advice based on clinical examination. 12 such centers within 5 KM radius covered a rural population of 25,000. Over the years, the MMCs have grown manifold organizing on an average of 6 camps a week, covering 60 villages within a radius of 10 Km of the Refinery and treating 50,000 plus patients in a year. Mobile Medical Units are equipped with Mobile Laboratory facility with provision for on the spot blood report of essential blood tests like hemoglobin, blood sugar, blood grouping etc. The camps not only provide primary health care services, but also conduct awareness programmes on various communicable and non-communicable diseases including health and hygiene. Apart from the regular inflow of patients, MMCs provide regular medication to routine patients suffering from chronic illnesses like hypertension, thyroid disorders, diabetes and epilepsy. Since the year 2017, the MMCs are also carrying out regular screening of rural women for breast cancer and cervical cancer. In addition, the MMCs also carry out regular first aid training programme for local population and police constables, CISF jawans, forest guards and teachers from nearby schools and colleges including camps beyond its earmarked area on the request of various NGOs, specially during natural calamities like floods. A press release stated. 

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