When docs descended on a remote DK village

Health check-up camp turns godsend for Elaneer villagers

Perhaps for the first time, 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 Dakshina Kannada district unit of Indian Red Cross Society, who organised the camp in association with Government Wenlock Hospital (Physicians & Ophthalmologists), Ayush Department (Ayurvedic & Unani) and A J Hospital (dental unit), on Sunday.

Located 110 km away from Mangaluru, 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, where 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 Standard I to VII in a single room. Established in 1965, there are no students for VII standard this year.

While there are two students each in I, II, III, IV and V standard, 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 km away and for good health care services, residents have to come to Mangaluru by travelling for nearly 4 hours. Most 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 aged, were happy to see ophthalmologists in their village.

“We have to travel a lot to test our eyes and God bless you for coming to our village,” said Alavi (74) and Gangamma (70), for to get their eyes tested. On the other hand, a group of 20 doctors from A J Institute of Dental Sciences (from three departments) had 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 most villagers’ health was good except few who have skin allergy, perhaps due to lack of hygiene.

Ophthalmology Department Head Dr Bhavanishankar said 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 villagers was joint pain, for which both doctors from Ayush Department (Dr Devdas from Ayurveda and Dr Mohammed Asphaque from Unani) provided medicines after check up. A total of 85 villagers were benefitted from the camp.

Free kits

On the occasion, IRCS DK Chairman B Prabhakar Shriyan distributed 32 kits to poor and needy families, mostly scheduled tribes, which comprised dhothi, saree, blanket and household utensils.

Similarly, IRCS also donated books and dictionary to the only Government Higher Primary School in Guthyadka.