Rural Health Outreach Program

Brief Report on the Medical Health Camp

The Medical Ambulance and Rural health outreach program of Pro Rural was flagged off on 16^th August 2024. In its maiden tour, 8 villages were covered in the far-flung Nsong Circle, Tening Block under Peren District to bring basic healthcare to the doorsteps of the people. As the people pointed out, this is the first time in their village history that a Doctor and Nurse have come. The doctor and nurses were overwhelmed by the hundreds of sick people during the five-day trip going from village to village. In the three days of health camps covering 8 villages, a total of 323 patients were screened and treated by the doctor, prescribing and dispensing of essential medicines. The nurses also visited 8 homes with diagnostic tools where patients were bedridden, and later on, the doctor dispensed with essential medicines. The team could not reach a few villages as the incessant rains made the roads impassable.

The lone government nurse at Nsong was very helpful as the number of patients in every village was large and the doctor was finding it difficult to cater to every patient. The nurses did the BP, Sugar, and pulse check and recorded disease history, to make it easier for the doctor. Pro Rural staff did the patient registration at the sites. For the Doctor too, it was challenging to sit from 8 am to 6 pm patiently on all the days in the make-shift chamber that the Community Resource Persons (CRP) and the village councils have set up in schools and community buildings. He was attending to an average of 107 patients per day. Even during his practicing days, he had not screened more than 20 patients in a day, (he had informed), and now in these villages, he could not say no to the people who have longed for the visit of a doctor for so many years.  

 A total of 323 patients were treated for various ailments like  High Blood Pressure, Sugar, Heart problems, cataracts, and ANC. A few difficult cases have been referred to hospitals for further treatment.

Children, middle-aged and women have cases related to dermatological, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and gynecological problems. Almost all elderly people have age-related sicknesses arising from vitamin and iron deficiencies.  

Skin-related diseases mainly scabies, dermatitis, impetigo, Acid peptic disorders/GERD, and worm infestation. Various types of joint pain and myalgia were also predominant, and menstrual cycle-related problems, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), UV prolapsed, and antenatal-related patients were predominant among gynecology/obstetric. Serious cases were referred to Hospitals for further treatment.

Feedback from villagers:

• Grateful to Pro Rural for bringing ambulances, doctors, and nurses to these far-flung villages, and giving free medicines to the sick people as well.
• Villagers expressed their struggles when they were seriously sick. They had to travel long distances to get access to any health services.
• Due to financial problems, the patients could not be taken to hospitals for treatment and they were just left at home to be treated by some traditional healers.
• In some cases, families who are surviving on day-to-day earnings fail to get treated due to the inability to pay for necessary medical treatment.
• The village people requested regular health melas to bring relief to the population.
• The health awareness for adolescent girls at Nsong was appreciated as they opened up to the nurses to share their ignorance and seek information from them.
• People also emphasized health education and awareness programs to address common health issues, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition.
• Elders voiced their needs and requested to consider establishing a permanent health facility or clinic to provide continuous health services.