Elaneer (DK dist): Perhaps for the first time, the villagers of Elaneer saw a fleet of doctors visiting the remotest village of Dakshina Kannada district to check their health, thanks to the efforts of the Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Indian Red Cross Society, who organized the camp in association with the Government Wenlock Hospital (Physicians & Ophthalmologists), Ayush department (Ayurvedic & Unani) and A J Hospital (dental unit), on Sunday.
Located about 110 kms away from Mangaluru, the Elaneer village does not have power supply even to this day, though Dakshina Kannada district boasts of ultra modern facilities including half a dozen medical colleges and equal number of universities wherein students from across the world throng to study medicine, engineering, architecture, ayurveda and homeopathy among other new and unique courses.
The only school in the adjoining village (Guthyadka) has 13 students studying from first standard to 7th standard in a single room. Established in 1965, there are no students for 7th standard this year. While there are 2 students each in I, II, III, IV and V std, there are three students in VI standard (totally 7 male and 6 female). Two teachers – Sandeep and Raveendra – teach the students all the subjects.
The nearest primary health centre is 13 kms away and for good health care services, residents have to come to Mangaluru by travelling for nearly 4 hours. Most of the villagers are daily wage / agriculture labourers.
The camp
While many preferred Ayurveda and Unani medicine, they consulted general physicians too. On the other hand, a few, especially the aged, were happy to see Ophthalmologists in their village. “We have to travel a lot to show our eyes and god bless you for coming to our village,” said Alavi (74) and Gangamma (70), who were waiting for a long time to get their eyes tested.
On the other hand, a group of 20 doctors from A J Institute of Dental Sciences (from 3 departments) had a tough time in convincing the villagers, as many were ‘scared’ after they saw dental equipment. “Only after convincing a villager that the ‘long equipment’ was only a mirror to see the tooth, she agreed to open her mouth.”
However, later, many villagers ‘opened’ their mouth before the dentists and few got their tooth extracted too while a few others went for scaling and filling. A generator was brought all the way from Kalasa, as dental equipment needed power supply.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Wenlock Hospital General Medicine Department Head Dr Julian Saldanha said that most of the villagers’ health was good except for a few who have skin allergy, perhaps due to lack of hygiene.
Ophthalmology department Head Dr Bhavanishankar said that except for one person, who needs cataract surgery, all others had minor problem, for which medicine was given free of cost.
One of the major complaints of the villagers was joint pain, for which both doctors from Ayush department (Dr Devdas from Ayurveda and Dr Mohammed Asphaque from Unani) provided medicines after a thorough check up.
A total of 85 villagers were benefitted from the camp.
Free kits
On the occasion, the IRCS DK Chairman B Prabhakar Shriyan distributed 32 kits to poor and needy families, mostly scheduled tribes, which comprised a dhothi, a saree, a blanket and household utensils.
Similarly, the IRCS also donated books and a dictionary to the only Government Higher Primary School in Guthyadka. School Teacher Raveendra received the books. IRCS Blood Bank Chairman Ronald Anil Fernandes, District Statistical Officer & Blood Bank Committee Member Pradeep D’Souza, Indian Express Reporter Rajesh Shetty, Vartha Bharathi Chief Reporter Pushparaj, Prajavani Reporter & Blood Bank Committee Member Revanna Makala and Photo Journalist Govindraj Javali among others extended their help in smooth conducting of the camp.
Arun Kumar Jain, who helped to organise the camp locally, was felicitated by the IRCS on the occasion.