Over 2,000 inhabitants of the Lakshadweep group of islands benefited from the annual medical camp conducted by the Navy there for the last four days.
The camp, which had specialists in paediatrics, radiology, ophthalmology, gynaecology, psychiatry, dermatology, neonatology, dentistry, and medicine from the Kochi-based Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Sanjivani, concluded at Kadmat Island on Friday.
Team of doctors
A 27-member multi-specialty medical team led by Surgeon Commodore Girish Gupta, Commanding Officer of INHS Sanjivani, commenced the mission on November 1 and camps were conducted at Minicoy, Androth, and Amini besides Kadmat. INS Krishna and a Dornier aircraft from the Southern Naval Command provided logistic support for the camp, the opening event in the run-up to the Navy Day on December 4.
Surgeon Commodore Gupta said that the camp demonstrated the Navy's commitment towards the islanders. He was satisfied with the enthusiastic response it received. Naval doctors detected high levels of anaemia among the population. The medical team also imparted midwifery training to the islanders in view of its relatively modest delivery care and the distance of the archipelago from the mainland.
A specific case of molar pregnancy was also managed by the naval doctors. Lectures on parenting, counselling, and basic hygiene were provided in addition to basic life support training using dummies. The Navy team was supported by the Lakshadweep Administration in the conduct of the camp.
