Sri Vijaya Puram, July 29: As part of the Government of India’s flagship TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (TMBMA), the District Administration, through the District Health Society, South Andaman, in coordination with the Directorate of Health Services, RMRC-ICMR, and Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, has commenced a series of general and lung health awareness-cum-screening camps across key locations in the district.
The camps aim to raise community-level awareness on Tuberculosis (TB) and general lung health, screen vulnerable populations for early symptoms, and connect citizens to essential health services. The initiative also includes Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) creation and Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) Card generation, thereby ensuring health security for all eligible individuals.
The second camp was held at Khaitan Kalyana Mandapam, Junglighat, covering Ward No. 06, with a total of 92 people attending the event. Key services provided during the camp includes 49-Chest X-rays were conducted using state-of-the-art hand-held X-ray machines provided by ICMR-RMRC. General health check-ups, including blood pressure and blood sugar screenings were carried out by trained medical staff. Screening for TB symptoms and assessment of vulnerability criteria was conducted by doctors from the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). ABHA IDs and PM-JAY e-Cards were generated for eligible participants to enable digital health records and access to free healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
In a strong gesture of support and community engagement, Shri Aziz Ur Rehman, Councillor of Ward No. 06, attended the camp and also volunteered to undergo Chest X-ray screening, encouraging public participation and setting a commendable example of Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) in health initiatives. Dr. Minitta Regy, WHO Consultant, and Dr. Dency Tony, MO-DTC conducted awareness sessions during the camp.
The District Administration appeals to the public to actively participate in the upcoming screening camps and take full advantage of the health services being provided. Early detection and timely treatment remain the most effective tools in the fight against Tuberculosis.
The schedule of subsequent camps across other Wards has been notified and is available with the respective Health & Wellness Centres and Urban Local Bodies.