Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MARCH 28
One of the biggest (both in terms of reach and duration) medical camps in Nagaland, organized by Rotary International with the support of the state government and CIHSR, is currently underway at District Hospital Dimapur.
At least 15 doctors from across the country would be available for consultation and surgery, free of cost, for a period of nine days, from March 28 till April 5 next, at the medical camp which goes by the name of Rotary Rahat Medical Mission. The specialties include eye surgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, gynecology, neurology, dermatology, orthopedics etc.
At least 1500 people were reported to have registered at the camp on Monday morning. The organizers were expecting the numbers to rise as the day goes on.
According to the person behind the Rotary Rahat Mission, Raja Saboo, they have wanted to introduce the free surgery camp in Nagaland since last year. He admitted that Nagaland has presented them with “full of challenges.”
“But by bringing smile to the patients, we seek to rise in the measure,” Saboo said. A senior doctor from the visiting team of experts also said that they were ready to “accept the challenges as they come”, and that the people of Nagaland deserves all help.
Dr Abraham Joseph, the director of Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), while welcoming the “noble initiative”, felt that the poor healthcare system in Nagaland was not because of lack of commitment but of geographical isolation.
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, shared that the Dimapur administration has relayed the news of the free surgery camp to other districts, suggesting them to send people from their respective districts to the camp. He also encouraged the organizers to spread the initiative to other districts of the state as well.
His sentiments were supplemented by the Governor of Nagaland as well. At the inaugural of the medical camp, Acharya applauded the initiative even as he reminded the organizers that Nagaland is more than just Dimapur and Kohima.
“There are people living in the villages. Why can’t we go there and serve the people,” he said while making special reference to the eastern districts of the state. He also stated that the “mainland” Indians should change their perceptions of Nagaland and the northeast states.
Acharya described such perceptions as a “one-way traffic” while asserting that Nagaland is not a dangerous place at all, contrary to mainstream perceptions. He encouraged the visiting doctors and others to view Nagaland, and its people, from the perspective of “national integration and emotional integration.”
