Innovative transport for health camps
C-NES’ Boat Clinic health camps are held under extremely challenging conditions. During summer there is no respite from the scorching sun and heat for health teams while conducting camps. Monsoons find the Boat Clinics struggling their way through angry rivers with strong water currents full to the brim, often overflowing banks. It is mandatory for the team members to wear life jackets to ensure their own safety. With the onset of the dry winter months and river water subsiding, it is a different challenge for the teams. Most often the Boats get stuck in the river bed and it is only after a lot of struggle that they are freed. The walking distance to the camp also increases due to the Boat not being able to reach the village banks. They walk long distances carrying all essentials for conducting the health camps, medicines, equipments, furniture. But camps are never missed, come rain, come shine. “At times, we walk 10 kms or more just to get to a village and hold a camp,” said Medical Officer, Dr B Borah from the Dibrugarh Boat Clinic. “But the experience is enriching since the villagers see us as people who are bringing an improvement into their lives – this is visible from our many visits. It is exhausting work but also deeply fulfilling.”
The following photographs sent by the District Programme Officer Lakhimpur, Mr Tapan Borah depicts the health team’s journey to conduct health camps at Borbali village under Nowboicha block PHC on March 21st 2012. The team got innovative and used means of local transportation to overcome the long walking distance to the camp site from the riverbank because of low water level in the Subansiri river. Borbali village is connected with Subansiri river by a single river which is now dry. Hence the need for local transport and innovation.
