Kamjong: With a population of around 53,716, Kamjong district is one of the seven new districts created in Manipur, bifurcating from the existing nine districts in 2016. However, despite being a full-fledged district, the hill district has only one community health centre, two primary health centres and 19 sub-centres with limited infrastructures and human resources to cater the services to the people in the district.
The lone CHC Kamjong is run by only four doctors, one nurse, and one ANM, with no lab technician/microscopist, ophthalmic assistant, or dental surgeon. Having almost non-functioning facilities and infrastructures, CHC Kamjong is reportedly functioning barely and provides necessary health services to its district populace.
According to locals, despite having health cards (PM-JAY/CMHT Card), most of them belong to poor and low socio-economic conditions unable to avail of the benefits as they cannot afford transportation (cost Rs 7000 to 10000), accommodation, food costs, etc to travel to Ukhrul or Imphal or other tertiary Hospitals for treatment.
To aid the poor health care facilities and the plight of the people in the district, the District Health Society, Kamjong in collaboration with All Tangkhul Medicos Association (ATMA) conducted a two-day Free Surgical Camp at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Kamjong from Friday (May 10-11). The first such free surgical camp in the district was supported by the District Administration Kamjong.
According to ATMA president Dr Wormi Sharon, assistant professor of the surgery department, JNIMS, as many as 49 patients availed the free surgical service with minor surgeries were registered, including lipoma, cystic swelling, ganglion, corn, chalazion eye, keloid, circumcision, and four major surgeries, one total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), two appendices, and one ovarian cystectomy.
Along with the surgical camp, ABHA IDs were also created for all patients who underwent surgeries, he informed.
The two-day free surgical camp was attended by 15 members of ATMA, including surgeons, gynaecologists and anaesthetists.
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Expressing gratitude to the team of AMTA for rendering the healthcare services, chief medical officer Kamjong Dr Lucy Duidang also appealed to the state government to upgrade the CHC Kamjong to a full-fledged district hospital.
With very limited staff and lack of proper medical equipment, there are lots of challenges while providing services to our people, said a nurse working at the CHC Kamjong.
Through this free surgical camp, people in the district, especially those patients who cannot afford for treatment at other hospitals due to financial constraints, have availed the free medical service and received treatment, she added.
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