Chandigarh, 13th August:Hundreds of outreach camps were organized by the department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab on 12th & 13th August to mark the Independence Day celebrations in a different way and to provide special medical services to the people of the state. A total no of 108 camps were held on 12th August in slums, backwards & remote areas of the state, wherein special emphasis was laid upon the weaker sections and people living in backward areas. During these camps general medical check-ups were done and medicine distributed free of cost. 139 special medical camps were held on 13th August at district, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centers in which a special emphasis was laid on medical examination and treatment of pregnant women, mothers and children across the state. During these camps medicines and other laboratory investigations like HB tests, immunization and gynecological services were carried free of cost.
This massive exercise was monitored and supervised by senior officers of the department, including the Health Minister, Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, and Health Secretary Sh Satish Chandra.
Prof Chawla herself supervised the camps held in the districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran, whereas Sh Satish Chandra, Secretary Health personally visited Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana districts to supervise these camps. Sh Anurag Agarwal, Mission Director NRHM visited Rajpura and Sangrur; Smt Raji Srivastava, Managing Director PHSC visited Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur; Dr SPS Sohal, Director Health Services visited Gurdaspur, Dr JP Singh Director, Family Welfare went to Kapurthala to supervise these camps.
Giving further information in this regard Sh Satish Chandra informed that a very warm public response has been received to this special campaign launched by the Health & FW department. He stated that a total no of 108 camps were held on 12th August, wherein 42,488 people were examined which also included women and children. He informed that on 13th August free medical services through 139 special camps were given to 53373 mothers and children including services like immunization, medicines and lab tests with the help of specialist doctors and para-medical staff deputed for the purpose. He added that 12,637 pregnant women were examined on day one alone and females who were found to be anemic were given free iron folic acid tablets and other medicines.