It was perhaps for the first time after Independence that a free medical camp was organised in extremely difficult terrains of Arunachal Pradesh. A team of eight doctors, six hailing from Nagpur, and drawn from various streams of medical specialisations conducted 11 medical camps encompassing around 80 villages. The medical camps were conducted from September 10 to 16 under the aegis of the Sanghamitra Sewa Pratishthan and Arunachal Vikas Parishad. A total of 3312 patients were examined in the camps. Despite the fact that the water in Arunachal Pradesh has high iron content, people of the region basically suffer from iron deficiency. There is also high level of worm infections in the stomach due to high meat consumption. Due to lack of cleanliness and unhygienic living standard there are also skin problems. This unhygienic living and heavy intake of chewing gum, chocolates, tobacco, beedi and supari, people also suffer from dental problems. Women specially suffer from weakness and backaches. The reason is lack of family planning resulting in about 9 to 10 children in every family. There is also lack of experts during deliveries and general unhygienic condition. Children suffer from skin problem, stomach ailments, diarrhea, dysentery, liver problems, cough and cold. The reason once again is the lack of cleanliness and education and general unawareness regarding health. A medical camp was held in the last village-Chaglagram, in the Indian territory on the Indo-Sino borders. It was for the first time that health needs of these people living in this difficult terrain were catered to after Independence through a camp. The stretch is so difficult that in just 22 kms journey between Chaglagram and Metlang, the team had to face 22 landslides. Some stretches like the one enroute to Rangalibil, saw the team treading slush for over five to six kms. In some villages, the only access was through boats. In all the camps patients were examined, medicines were distributed, counseling and health awareness was also provided. The team of doctors included Dr Mridula Bapat, Dr Lata Junankar (Gynecologists), Dr Shailja Deshpande, Dr Shruti Nakare and Dr Manohar Nichakvade (Dentists), Dr Vinod Vaidya and Dr Malati Barua (Pediatricians) and Dr Gopalnandan (General Physician). Smt. Chitra Joshi, Akhil Bharatiya Sah-Sewa Pramukh of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Shri Navin Deshpande and Smt. Ashwini Ginha along with 25 other activists also accompanied the team. (VSK, Nagpur)
