General News
Minors walk to disability camp
NAHAN: Talk of commitment and single-minded pursuit. A motley group of 90-odd kids who hobbled up the narrow looping mountain trails for hours at a stretch to reach the community health centre in Shillai at an appointed hour could definitely teach these to a group of doctors who were to examine them and did not.
The children โ all in age group of 5 to 10 years and physical challenged โ reached the health centre, about 120km from here, on Tuesday after trudging long miles from farflung villages spanning 30 panchayats. A team of four doctors, comprising an orthopaedist, ENT specialist, eye specialist and a general physician, from Nahan and Paonta Sahib was to begin their examination at 9am to ascertain their physical disability level and disburse certificates to effect. Specially-abled persons are allowed various concessions โ academic and otherwise.
The kids and their guardians waited for the team till 2.30pm, and then began leaving the venue in small batches.
Lamenting the callous attitude of doctors, a Mallah villager, who had accompanied his disabled son, told The Times of India, "The health department has made a mockery of the whole thing. Personally, I feel an injustice has been done to us. We alone can feel the pain our children have gone through. A majority of them cannot even walk properly and had to be bodily lifted to reach the CMC. Itโs going to be another long trek (back home) since transport in remote areas in minimal." When contacted over phone on Thursday, chief medical officer, Nahan, MK Pathak, promised departmental action against the medics, saying, "Iโve called to account the concerned medical staff and asked them to explain their action within two days."
He also promised another camp for the disabled children. Only, the villagers donโt seem too keen on it and want an examination at their doorstep.
Additional Information
Country: India
Website: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Minors-walk-to-disability-camp-docs-fail-them/articleshow/5201735.cms
Email: N/A
Phone: N/A
Contact Person: N/A
Source: MORI, Soya
When: 09/11/2009
