Shillong, July 21: The Department of Allied Health Sciences, Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong in collaboration with the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU) of the NRHM, Bethany hospital, Bansara Institute of Ophthalmic Sciences, Shillong and Diengiei PHC organized a health camp at Nongpathaw village, Mylliem block under Sohiong, in East Khasi Hills district on Friday.
Located 50 kilometers from Shillong with a total population of 1200, the basic health facilities is covered by Diengiei PHC which is 36 km approximately from Nongpathaw, however travelling to the centre poses a hurdle due lack of transport facility.
The objective of conducting the health camp which was organized at Nongpathaw Secondary School was to create awareness on general health among the people, to provide general health care services, to counsel them on basic healthcare and hygiene and to assess the health and nutritional status of the children, pregnant and lactating mothers. In addition, the health camp also provided hands on experience to the students of the AHS department in rural health care.
During the health camp nutritional assessment, nutrition and health counselling and physical examination which were carried out by the students of MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, MA Nutrition and Health and BSc Community Health Practioner (BSc CHP) respectively.
The medical examination of children was carried out by Dr M Surong, Bethany Hospital, Dr GT Passah, NRHM and Dr C Wann, Diengiei PHC. The eye screening was done by the BSc Optometry students. All medications were dispensed for free. Blood haemoglobin estimation as well routine urine examinations were performed by the students of BSc Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc MLT).
Besides, as part of the program a short meeting with adolescent and adult population of the village was also organized. Ms Sweety Z Wankhar, faculty of Nutrition and Dietetics cell gave a brief talk on nutritional requirements while Dr GT Passah stressed on the problems of associated with adolescent pregnancy. A total of 372 people attended the camp, which included 250 school children.
It was also learnt that the most common diagnoses were nutritional anaemia, dental caries, cataract, allergic conjunctivitis, refractive errors. Malnutrition and vitamin deficiency diseases were also common amongst women and children.(SP News)
