|
is creating major
hurdle against our plan to increase number of doctors vis-ŕ-vis
opening of new and specialist departments. During the last
two years, with the help of fellow welfare organization, a
number of free health check up canters have been introduced
in different parts of the city to cope up with the increasing
number of poor patients intending to take the benefit for
our outdoor clinics.
E. C. G. OXYGEN AND PATHOLOGICAL
TESTS facilities etc.
to the needy patients at a very nominal charge as against
the ever rising cost of them at private organizations have
gained high popularity and poor people expect more and more
services of such kind. Over the years, the quality of services
has also increased and with the limited resources, the number
of ECG machine, Oxygen Cylinder and apparatus of pathological
department have been increased manifold. During the pervasion
year, a unit providing Eco Cardio Graph (ECM) test facility
has been introduce for the benefit of the patients who can
not afford such high cost tests at private canters.
EMERGENCY
(NIGHT) MEDICAL SERVICE
over the years has matured to a large extent. Though the number
of both indoor and outdoor patients have increased in recent
past, the area of coverage is required to be enlarged. Active
study is being made in this respect and several proposals
are also being examined for setting up of branches of Emergency
(Night) Medical Service in other locality of Calcutta in collaboration
with local welfare organizations /NGOs.
AMBULANCE
DEPARTMENT has served
increasing number of patients mostly from poor community at
a nominal maintenance charge as donation. Fund constraint
in conjunction with the increasing cost of gears and accessories,
repairing etc. pose real problem in rendering this round-the-clock
service in spite of our sincere attempt to overcome them.
With only one Ambulance Van at our disposal, we occasionally
fail to provide the needed service particularly when the Van
remains under repairing or routine maintenance. During 1999,
we have introduced another Ambulance Van which has been donated
by a reputed Business Society. This has helped us to meet
to a large extent, the increasing number of poor patient at
a minimum charge.
A number of HEALTH
CAMPS were organized during the past two years in the slum
areas of Calcutta and several district / rural areas of West
Bengal. Last year, more emphasis was given on camps for child
and women health which received very high response from the
public and various youth organizations particularly from district
and rural areas who took active participation in those camps.
We have received proposals from some district organizations
for organizing surgical camps also like Cataract Operation
Camps. Dental Camps etc. a few of which will come into light
in near future as certain commercial banks are taking interest
in this regard as part of their rural and community development
program.
Throughout
the year Medical Bank organizes several rallies, seminars,
awareness schemes, counseling, etc. on various issues. It
has been successful in motivating common people to take active
part in program for Prevention of Drug Abuses and AIDS particularly
among youths of out society. A cell has also been set up to
provide counseling on those killer diseases. In view of unabated
rise in population and transport vehicles, lack of civic amenities
and improper pollution control measures by industries, pollution
in Calcutta and suburban areas has taken a shape of disaster
resulting in increased health hazards and in long run certain
diseases are heading beyond the control limit unless
pollution is checked with great sincerity and strict legislation.
As part of Anti-Pollution Movement of the nation, Medical
Bank has organized several Health Checkup Camps and Seminars
in association with Calcutta Police and other NGOs. The public
response to Pulse Polio Programme of our Immunization Department
has been excellent and such a national movement initiated
by Govt. of India is really having long term value to build
a healthy new Indians.
The scarcity
of blood for human lives continues to be one of the major
set back for the nation in creating civic sense and people
irrespective of caste, literacy, wealth and culture are suffering
from short supply of blood at times of need. The Government
support and motivation towards voluntary blood donation are
at stagnant level and have failed to create any major response.
The launching of our MOBILE BLOOD DONATION CANTERS at highly
commuted places like Rly. Station, Market Place, etc. and
special arrangement of donors for the thalasemic patients
have created overwhelming response among the public which
helped us increasing the volume of blood collection considerably.
The return of
malaria now- a- days has become an annual feature. Indiscriminate
growth of urbanization and breakdown of sanitation facilities
along with environmental transformation are the real culprits
for the outbreak of disease like malaria, dengue, plague etc.
Medical Bank took active participation in MALARIA PREVENTION
AND ERADICATION PROGRAMME by inspiring people to keep
local areas and houses clean, distributed insecticides and
medicines and organizing meeting and video shows on such diseases.
The welfare activities
of Medical Bank have been enlarged from medical help to providing
basic education and mid-day meal for street children, rehabilitation
and alternative job programme for sex workers etc. Several
voluntary organizations and business houses have come forward
with technical and financial support to make these programmes
all success.
While concluding
this report, we must have believes that in a developing
and highly populated country like ours, the government policies
and legislation cannot be the only solution for multidimensional
health problems. Materialization and proper implementation
of plans and policies need people’s participation through
rising civic sense, education and economic development.
Medical Bank and its volunteers being disciplined citizen
of the nation are not only proud but also share the responsibility
of achieving such objectives to built a new generation healthy
and prosperous India.
|
