COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE

The Mission has adopted a two-pronged approach in dealing with Health practices in the villages. The approaches are targeted at being Curative and Preventive.

CURATIVE

Sound physical and mental health is the very foundation of self-reliance and with this in mind, the Mission runs the following Medical Services.

23 Free Homeopathic Clinics in the rural areas of West Bengal

14 Homeopathic Clinics in the Urban slums of Kolkata and Guwahati (Assam) which treat more than 200 000 patients annually

2 Mobile Clinics visit more than 35 slums of Calcutta where there is an alarming dearth of basic medical facilities. They take care of about 8 000 to 10 000 patients a month and go far beyond their call of duty.

2 Blood Donation Camps have been carried out this year with a total of 85 individuals donating blood

1 Blood Group Test has been conducted with 110 individuals attending to get their blood tested.

The Mission runs a 24 hours Hearse Service with 3 Hearse vans to carry dead bodies to the cremation grounds. This service has been a boon to Kolkata City.

EYE CARE

By coordinating with Dr. Nihar Munshi Foundation, the Mission has also restored priceless eyesight to countless victims of cataract. The Mission has ensured that affected villagers are cured through Microsurgery, otherwise considered to be within the reach of the upper classes only.

Between Nov 1998 and Feb 1999, 125 patients from the remote village of Sandeshkhali were operated on successfully.

Between Dec 1999 and Feb 2000, 94 urban patients were catered to.

Between Jan 2001 and March 2002, 235 cataract operations were carried out successfully.

A Laparoscope Camp was conducted at Dona Village

PREVENTIVE

The old adage that 'Health is Wealth' is a simple mantra of living well and in line with this, the Mission works to improve health by making villagers aware of how they themselves can prevent diseases and lead a healthy life. So far, the following talks have been conducted on a need to basis.

Family Planning, Population Control and Mother-Child Health

Programmes

Environmental and Health Awareness Programmes

Nutrition and Food Preservation Programmes

How to identify and use Medicinal / Herbal Plants

Adolescent Talks on Physical changes and Development

PURE DRINKING WATER FOR ALL

The Mission has brought considerable relief in areas of West Bengal where arsenic in the drinking water had caused untold miseries. 28 deep tube wells help thousands drink pure arsenic free water. Moreover, special water purifying units called 'Srijal' (manufactured by Ion Exchange, Zero-B) have been distributed to villagers at subsidized rates.

LOW COST SANITATION

One of the most important function of the Micro Credit Women's groups is to make sure that each family in the adopted village has a low cost toilet to ensure good health and environmental cleanliness. The awareness is created over a period of time amongst the villagers for the need of the sanitary facility in each home and once they feel the need, they themselves have it through the Micro Credit facility to meet the initial cost of the sanitary unit which is provided through subsidised sources of the Govt.

Back

Mission's Dentist attending patient

A glimpse of Rural Health Service Project

Polio Sunday is being observed by Lokenath Self Help Groups

Pulse Polio Awareness: SHGs in Action

Physiotherapy treatment is being given by Mission's Health Worker

A glimpse of an Operation Camp organised by the Mission