EKHON |UKHRUL: In one of the worst health service facilities in the state, Kamjong district of Manipur with a population of around 53716 has at present, four doctors, one nurse, and one ANM manning the only Community Health Centre (CHC) of the district. Kamjong is one of the 16 districts of Manipur that was created in 2016 out of Ukhrul district.
To aid the poor facilities and lack of human resources, the District Health Society, Kamjong in collaboration with All Tangkhul Medicos Association (ATMA) and supported by the District Administration Kamjong is currently organizing a two-day Free Surgical Camp at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Kamjong from 10th to 11th May 2024.
To help the suffering and need of the people, 15 members of ATMA including surgeon, gynecologist and anesthetist is attending the camp to render the service to the community with no proper health facilities.
In total, 49 patients availed the free service with 45 minor surgery including lipoma, cystic swelling, ganglion, corn, chalazion eye, keloid, circumcision etc. and 4 major surgeries including, Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH), 2 Appendicectomy and 1 Ovarian Cystectomy. Â Along with the surgical Camp, ABHA IDs creation is also being done for all the patients who underwent surgeries.
While ATMA has been conducting 2 peripheral medical camps and 1 surgical camp annually in Ukhrul district, this is the first time the camp was held at Kamjong district. Having known the pathetic condition of Kamjong district health service, Dr Wormi Sharon, president of ATMA appealed the concerned authority to upgrade the CHC to full-fledged district hospital with adequate facilities and manpower, and further called for equal development in every part of the state. ATMA president also lamented that despite many patients turning up for major surgeries, they could not perform due to unavailability of instruments and unavailability of general anesthesia facilities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lucy Duidang, Kamjong CMO thanked the ATMA team members led by its president Dr. Wormi Sharon Asst. Prof. Surgery JNIMS for their selfless sacrifice to come forward and bearing their own travel expenses and supporting through surgical equipment and suture materials. Further, the District Health Society also thanked Rangnamei Rang Peter, DC Kamjong for his constant support and encouragement to the District Health Dept. Dr. Lucy Duidang strongly appealed the government authority to upgrade the CHC, kamjong to a full-fledged District Hospital.
Despite being a full-fledged district, the four district Blocks has only one CHC, 2 PHC and 19 Sub-centers to cater to the people of the district. With only four doctors, one nurse and one ANM, the CHC with limited human resources and almost non-functioning facilities and infrastructures is barely able to function and give necessary health care services to its district populace. Despite being a CHC, it functioned like a Primary Health Centre (PHC) with no Lab technician/no microscopist, no ophthalmic assistant, no dental surgeon etc. And despite having Health Card (PM JAY/CMHT Card), the population which mostly belonged to poor and low socio-economic condition are unable to avail the benefits as they could not afford transportation (cost Rs.7000 to 10000), accommodation, fooding cost etc to travel to Ukhrul or Imphal or to other tertiary Hospitals for treatment.
The two days Surgical Camp began by committing to God with a prayer from Rev. Shimreipam Phungshok, Pastor Kamjong Baptist Church.
