The community medicine department of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital in India's West Bengal held a free health camp on Tuesday in Patalkhuri village, Bankura-1 block. At the camp in Patalkhuri High School, villagers saw doctors, had tests done and received the medicines they needed.

Doctors from the medical college were joined by eye, dental, skin and child specialists. Blood sugar, blood pressure, ECG and other tests were available, and essential medicines were handed out as required.

Local people said the trip from their remote village to the medical college costs a lot and wastes a whole day's work, so getting treatment, tests and medicine in the village pleased them. They asked for camps every three or six months rather than once a year.

Assistant professor Tridibesh Bhattacharya of the medical college said: 'Many people cannot queue at the hospital to see a doctor, and if they go they lose a day's earnings. We hold health camps like this to take treatment to them.'

Bankura-1 block development officer Zinia Saha visited the camp and called it a good initiative. Community medicine officials said they would try to widen the service in future if possible.

The report was written for Ei Samay by Koushik Bhattacharya.

Photo: Ei Samay

Source: Ei Samay