KARACHI: Institute of Family Medicine-Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) organised a medical camp at District Headquarter Hospital in Uthal.
During the five-hour medical camp, doctors and paramedical personnel from IFM-JSMU treated over 700 patients, 70% of whom were women and children.
Prof. Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Chancellor of the university, stated that such medical camps could increase rural impoverished people's public health awareness and provide free quality care at their doorstep.
Prof. Marie Andrades, dean of IFM-JSMU, was the faculty member in charge of planning the camp. Senior Lecturer Dr Pradeep Rai, Lecturer Dr Sadaf Badiuzzaman, JSMU fourth-year medical students Syeda Maheen Zehra and Hana Javed, Registered Nurse Tabassum, Dispenser Zakir Khan, Junior Clerk Shah Jahan, and Naib Qasim Asad comprised the camp team.
The crew brought PKR 1,000,000 worth of essential medications donated by the university. Prof. Marie Andrades, director of the IFM-JSMU, reported that the majority of patients had skin infections, gastrointestinal infections, and lung infections.
In addition, malnutrition with anaemia was frequent among both mothers and children. Noncommunicable disorders such as hypertension and diabetes were also addressed. Poverty, lack of education, especially health education, practically widespread usage of gutta, and lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene were among the societal challenges encountered.