Sake: MONUC holds medical camp for local population

Major Shardool Sharma / MONUC

08 aug. 08 - 16.50h

   

A medical camp was organized by MONUC's Indian contingent for the local population of Sake town and surrounding areas in North Kivu province in eastern DRC on Wednesday 6 August 2008, with the aim of providing specialist medical services to the local population.

The camp was opened by Colonel Murugesan of MONUC's Indian contingent and Colonel Arora, commanding officer of MONUC's level III hospital in Goma. This was the first time that a medical camp was organised in the region, comprising of specialists in orthopedics, gynecology, surgery and oral hygiene from MONUC's Goma hospital.

It received an overwhelming response, with 300 local people from Sake, Mubambiro, Kimoka, Kirotche and Mugunga receiving free medical advice, treatment and medicines.

FARDC soldiers and their families stationed in nearby Mubambiro garrison were also treated.

Overall camp coordination was carried out by medical officer for the Indian MONUC contingent Lt. Colonel Joshi Thomas.

The patients mostly suffered from gun shot wounds of the Sake crisis, orthopedic abnormalities and eye infections, and pregnant women also received consultations. Cases of malnutrition, retarded development, malaria, diarrhea and other waterborne diseases were also prevalent.

Patients who required further examination were registered and referred to the MONUC level III hospital in Goma.

As many people had come to the medical camp from remote areas, they were provided with tea and light refreshments before the journey home.

Pamphlets were circulated in all the target villages in advance, giving information about the camp and the services available, so that the maximum number of people could benefit. MONUC also brought elderly and sick people from remote areas to the camp.

The medical camp received a very positive response from the population as well as the local authorites. Colonel Jonas Padiri, Commander of the FARDC 82nd Brigade stationed at Mubambiro garrison also visited the medical camp to see the services being offered to the local population.

He was very appreciative of the services offered to the local population, who lack adequate healthcare. He said that many locals were receiving medical care for the first time, and encouraged MONUC to organise more medical camps in the future.

The locals expressed their gratitude to MONUC, and were especially appreciative of the efforts taken to give them information regarding the camp in advance, even in remote areas. They unanimously said that more such camps be organized in the future, not just in Sake but in other areas as well.

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