Ranchi: A mega women’s health camp and vision safety campaign was organised on Saturday at the Community Health Centre, Tonto, starting from 9 AM. The event was organised under the joint collaboration of the Women Doctors Wing of IMA Jharkhand and the Forest Department, Chaibasa Forest Division, with special contributions from the Health Department and the District Administration of West Singhbhum.
The event was inaugurated by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Kuldeep Chaudhary. Civil Surgeon of Chaibasa Dr Sushanto Manjhi, DFO Podahat Forest Division, DDC, and SDM Chakradharpur were also present at the event.
The PVTG (Particular Vulnerable Tribal Group)-focused eye camps and women’s health campaigns are being set up in remote, Naxal-affected areas of Kolhan. The campaign was held earlier in Guwa on July 1, Goilkera on July 15, and now in Tonto. Upcoming camps are scheduled for 4th January in Pakur and 5th January in Sahibganj.
Dr. Bharti Kashyap, President of the Women Doctors Wing of Jharkhand, stated, “Since 1991, I have been running vision safety campaigns across Jharkhand, and from 2014, I have been focusing on Mega Women’s Health Campaigns, especially in the remote areas of Kolhan, Santhal Pargana, and Palamu. Our priority is to reach out to underserved local communities, particularly women and children suffering from vision loss, who have been neglected in terms of healthcare services. In this campaign, we have focused on treating conditions like cataracts and corneal diseases in children, which often cause them to miss school.”
The primary aim of the campaign is to treat 100% of women suffering from genital swelling through medication, as untreated genital swelling can lead to cervical cancer. The campaign also involves cryo-treatment for women suffering from cervical erosion and pre-cancer using digital video colposcopy, ensuring they are free of disease and can return home safely.
As part of the Vision Safety Campaign, eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, corneal issues, and retina diseases will be treated free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at the renowned Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital in Ranchi, accredited with NABH quality standards.
The campaign also aims to create a network of trained human resources. Several gynaecologists, including government gynaecologists, are being trained in digital video colposcopy-guided treatments so that the services continue smoothly in local government hospitals even after the camp.
The goal of the campaign is to spread health awareness among indigenous tribes and local communities, ensuring they can recognise diseases early and reach the right treatment at the right time.