Siliguri, Jan. 6: An indoor rehabilitation unit set up by Relief in a private nursing home here was inaugurated today for people suffering from strokes, spinal injuries and arthritis.

The indoor rehabilitation unit has four beds. Patients will be charged Rs 320 for each day. There will be seven therapists to attend to them round the clock.

More than 300 people also attended a day-long free medical camp on arthritis and related diseases organised by the rheumatology rehabilitation clinic and physiotherapy centre.

Sabitri Thami is one of those who attended the free check-up camp. “I had come all the way from Tunsung in Darjeeling (85km from Siliguri) to get myself treated. I have been suffering from arthritis for the past two years,” said Thami.

The aim of organising these camps is to create awareness. “People often believe that arthritis is incurable,” said Ashesh Roychoudhury, a specialist based in Agartala, who attended to the patients at the camp.

“But patients can lead a normal life if arthritis is treated within two years of being afflicted with it. Treatment may not cure a person completely, but it can help lead a normal life, ” he added.

Partha Pratim Pan, the director of Relief, said the clinic will organise such camps regularly. A workshop on “latest ways of intervention in management of low back pain: epidural and facet joint blocks” will be held tomorrow.