Anantnag, Dec 31:-In a significant outreach initiative aimed at improving healthcare access in remote areas, the Noorkash Foundation in collaboration with Khanqa-e-Hydari organised a free medical camp at Akad in the Seer hamlet of Anantnag district.
The camp witnessed an overwhelming response from locals, with at least 300 patients availing free medical consultations and medicines.
Residents from Akad and nearby hamlets turned up in large numbers, highlighting the acute need for basic healthcare facilities in the area.
A team of doctors examined patients suffering from various ailments, while free medicines were distributed on the spot to ensure immediate relief.
Doctors present at the camp expressed concern over the health condition of women and children in the area. “A large number of women and children were found to be anaemic, which is a serious issue.
There is an urgent need for awareness regarding proper nutrition, balanced diet and regular health check-ups,” one of the doctors said, advising families to pay special attention to dietary habits, particularly for growing children and expecting mothers.
Chairperson of the Smile Foundation, Ms Masrat Jan, who attended the programme as the chief guest, lauded the efforts of Noorkash Foundation and Khanqa-e-Hydari for reaching out to underserved communities.
She said such initiatives play a crucial role in bridging the healthcare gap in far-flung areas and assured that the Smile Foundation would continue to support similar welfare activities in the future.
Members of the Smile Foundation, while interacting with locals, announced that a similar medical camp would be organised in the area in the month of January to ensure continuity of healthcare services and follow-up for patients who require further attention.
Chairman of Khanqa-e-Hydari, Dr Sameer Shafi Siddiqui, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in addressing public issues. “People today are facing multiple challenges, especially related to health. There is a strong need to organise such events regularly for the benefit of the public. Every individual and organisation must come forward and contribute in whatever way possible to address these issues,” he said.
Muntazir Shah, a member of the Noorkash Foundation, said that the organisation has been actively working in the healthcare sector across Kashmir. “We have conducted dozens of free medical camps in far-flung and underserved areas of Kashmir during 2024, and we will continue this work in the coming times as well,” he said.
Fazil Ahmad another member added that several areas in the Valley still lack adequate healthcare facilities. “Our aim is to reach those areas which are facing serious healthcare issues and provide them with basic medical services and benefits. This is not a one-day effort but a continuous mission to serve humanity,” he said.
Locals appreciated the initiative and urged authorities and NGOs to organise such camps more frequently, saying that free medical camps provide much-needed relief to poor and marginalised families who otherwise struggle to afford healthcare.
