Free medical camp offers relief to low-income expats

Hundreds of low-income expatriate workers flocked to Tariq Bin Siyad Independent School in New Salata yesterday to avail of the services provided by a free medical camp,  organised by the Indian Islamic Association (IIA Qatar) in association with the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association.

 

The camp, whose main sponsor was Qtel, drew more than 4,000 workers. It featured medical check-ups, health talks,  awareness sessions on different topics and free distribution of medicines.

The camp, marking its 11th edition, was inaugurated by Qtel public relations director Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari.

More than 1,500 people had registered for the camp in the last few days and another 2,500 visited yesterday to make use of the facilities. About 130 doctors were deployed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA Qatar). A large number of nurses and paramedical staffers were also there to provide voluntary services to visitors.

In the morning, Dr Mohamed al-Hajri, a senior official of the Public Health Department of the Supreme Council of Health, addressed a meeting held before the camp’s inauguration. Hailing the “noble initiatives” of IIA Qatar in rendering medical assistance to  the poor sections of society, al-Hajri called upon other expatriate forums to emulate it with similar efforts. Speaking later, IIA (Qatar) president   and the medical camp’s organising committee chairman, Abdurrahman Ahmed, said the association had provided direct medical assistance to more than 25,000 through the last 10 camps and indirect assistance to almost double that number. IMA Qatar president Dr R Krishna Kumar said it was heartening to note that more doctors had come to render services this year than previous years.

At the inaugural ceremony, Qtel’s  al-Kuwari, Hamad Medical Corporation marketing and communications executive director Mohamed al-Naemi, Indian embassy second secretary Anil Nautiyal, Fanar’s head of community affairs Fahd al-Ruweili, the Traffic Department’s First Lt Fahd al-Mubarak also spoke.

Indian Community Benevolent Forum’s outgoing president Nilangshu Dey received the camp’s souvenir from Qatar Petroleum Medical Services manager Dr Mehmoud  Abdurahman al-Jaidah. The camp offered free blood pressure tests and glucose screenings, in association with Qatar Diabetics Association and Qatar Red Crescent. Arrangements were also made for glaucoma tests and breast cancer screening.

In the afternoon, doctors from Hamad Medical Corporation and other hospitals conducted health awareness classes.  Dr Umer Issam M Ali, Dr Fuad al-Ani,  Dr Jojy Mathews,  Dr Biju Ghafoor, Dr M M Abdul Kareem and Dr Sujatha were among those who held sessions.

The camp had 13 clinics manned by doctors and paramedical staffers. According to the organisers, besides  expatriates from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, a few Arab and African nationalities also availed of the services at the camp.

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