Report by:Mir Arif
Rafiabad:With an aim to provide basic health facilities in far-flung areas, Army’s 32 Rashtriya Rifles organised a first ever free medical camp at a government school in Nadihal village of Rafiabad in North Kashmir.
The free medical camp was organised to provide medical care to the villagers in the area at their doorsteps. A large number of locals, children, youngsters and elderly alike, visited the camp here and consulted the doctors.
It is pertinent to mention that Nadihal village of Rafiabad was considered a hotbed of stone pelting and this type of medical camp was first ever in this village and these outreach programmes are believed to help Indian Army bridge the gap between local populace and Army.
“Today’s medical camp is being organised with an aim to provide free basic health facilities to the villagers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since villagers in far-flung are unable to approach the big hospitals for medical attention, we organise medical camps to provide basic medicines,”told an Army official.
Besides medical consultations and check-ups,medicines were also provided to the people free of cost. Locals of Nadihal village lauded the Indian Army for organizing the medical camp.
“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has issued guidelines to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Third wave of Covid-19 is also approaching. The number of infections is expected to rise further,” told a doctor.
Locals appreciated this step taken by the Indian Army and hoped that such types of medical camps are organised across the constituency on a regular basis.
“An announcement was made in the morning that a medical camp is being organised in the area and asked the people to come down to the camp if anyone is sick. We came here to consult the doctors. They did check-ups and gave us free medicine and we want to thank 32 RR for their efforts and friendly gesture” told another local, who had come to the camp along with his daughter.
It is pertinent to mention here that over 600 patients were provided with free of cost medicines who turned up from adjoining areas and availed this facility.
This camp will go a long way in alleviating the health issues of local population and further strengthen the bonds of friendship between Army and local population told a villager while thanking Army’s 32 Rashtriya Rifles.
