A FIVE-DAY medical outreach in Region 8 initiated by the privately-owned New Doctors’ Clinic and the Mahdia District Hospital attended to 723 patients free of cost. During the outreach from November 30 to December 4, 2015, residents of Tumatumari, Micobi, Campbelltown, Princeville and Mahdia were offered services in the area of dental care, ultrasound, cancer screening, ECG testing, contraceptive counseling and family planning general medical check-up and optometry, a news release stated.

A number of pregnant women and young girls between the ages of 16 and 23 were able to benefit from ultrasound services. They were in loud praises for the team because there is no access to ultrasound services in those far-fetched communities and the journey to the city takes six to eight hours of travelling.
In the area of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr Sivini Samlall offered ultrasound to pregnant mothers, VIA screening, family planning and contraceptive counseling, IUD insertion and IUD removal.
In addition, the ultrasound assisted greatly to guide young mothers for safer delivery of their babies.
The release noted that the medical outreach saw villagers in those interior locations suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis, but it was observed that they were not adhering to medications.
Eye-testing was also done and eligible persons who suffered from cataract and other related diseases received frames and reading spectacles.
According to the Regional Health Officer of Region 8, Dr Ravendra Dudhnath, the medical outreach was a huge boost for the patients and the administration of Region 8 since the average cost for one patient to get to Georgetown for an ultrasound is about $48,000.
Dr Dudhnath expressed gratitude for the services since it will allow his team to manage and treat the pregnant mothers in order to achieve safer delivery.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of New Doctors’ Clinic, Satyendra Khemraj said the outreach was a successful one since many persons were found to be positive for VIA screening and were offered referral for early treatment and those who were newly diagnosed with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension were offered advice on diet and exercise along with appropriate medication.

Khemraj noted that there would be a follow-up of the patients in another outreach to be conducted. He expressed gratitude to the Regional Executive Officer Rafel Downes and the administration for welcoming and supporting the outreach, along with the hospitality of the people of Region 8.
A total of 122 patients benefited from eye testing, screening and correction of re-active errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, funduscopy, retinosocopy and ocular disease screening.
At the same time eligible patients were referred to secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, the release added.
The outreach team comprised of Satyendra Khemraj (Managing Director of New Doctors’ Clinic), Carl Perreira, Dr Ravendra Dudhnath, Dr Shivini Samlall, Dr Lauren Bancroft, Dr Bolan Persaud, Imran Khan (optometrist), Maquiba Demattos (dentist), Arlette Robin (pharmacist assistant), Tamika Baird (staff nurse/midwife), Joyce Lambert-Hall (midwife), Community Health Workers Tracey Chappelle and Mrs Claire and others of the Mahdia District Hospital.