A charitable medical unit was inaugurated at the IB Block community centre on Sunday. Along with medical consultation, the clinic will offer ambulance service too.
General secretary of IB Block Welfare Association, Shakti Prasad Majumdar, said: "We had a charitable medical unit earlier but it had stopped functioning years ago. We, the committee members, wanted to resume the service. We have plans to provide consultation and round-the-clock ambulance service against nominal charges." The service, he clarified, was open to people of adjacent blocks too.
An ambulance had to be called on Saturday itself, even before the service was formally launched. "A resident fell seriously ill and we had to arrange for him to be taken to Ruby General Hospital," he said.
The venture, president Subhas Mukhopadhyay said, was a joint initiative of the Centre for Urban Health and Development (CUHD) and the residents' body. "The medical unit will provide general check-up and come to use in emergencies for transfer of patients. It will also generate health consciousness and health education, prompting lifestyle modification and change of food habit. Since the facility will be near at hand, people are sure to avail of it," he said, admitting that taking the venture forward would be "a great challenge".
Assistant secretary, sports and culture, Sudipto Mukherjee said that initially medical services would be available every Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday. Dr Ashok Sarkar, a general physician, will be available from 4 to 6pm on Monday and Wednesday. Dental surgeon Dr Joydeb Kundu will offer his services on Tuesday, from 11am to 12noon.
All the committee office-bearers lauded the initiative taken by Amalendu Pal, a resident of the block and the director of Centre for Urban Health and Development, to revamp and resume the service. The ambulence service is being provided by him in his capacity as president of Indian Association of Blood Cancer and Allied Diseases with a vehicle from the association. "They have confirmed us an ambulance for the block's exclusive use. We expect it to be delivered soon,"
"As a member of this forum, it is our aim to promote and provide cultural, educational and health services not only for the residents but also those (members of the unorganised sector) who are associated with us in our everyday life. We plan to offer services of a general physician four days a week. Gradually specialised services will also be initiated. For any emergency referral services, we have tied up with Techno Dama Hospital," said Pal.
Dipto Sundar Mullick, vice-president, inaugurated two booklets published by CUHD, titled Keeping Healthy and Managing Diabetes. "This booklet will spread knowledge and health awareness amongst the general populace. It is written in a simple and lucid manner with proper guidelines about diabetes care and how we can improve our health if we follow some rules," Mullick said.
The charitable medical unit was inaugurated by economist Arun Chatterjee and the committee members of the IB Block association. Later local councillor Ranjan Poddar also dropped by.
Anjali Bhattacharjee, a resident of the block, said: "It's a really good initiative and the need of the hour. Many residents will be benefitted by this medical unit since the facility is located in the block. M.K. Banerjee, another resident who came for a general check-up, proposed that vaccines for influenza and pneumonia that geriatric residents need to take periodically could be arranged in the days to come at the medical unit."