The Sunderbans (a group of 102 islands spread over West Bengal and Bangladesh) is one of the most impoverished, neglected and remote regions.
The area is prone to cyclones and has no basic facilities such as drinking water, electricity and medical care.
The nearest 16-bed Government Primary Health Centre is in Gosaba, 2 hours away by boat.
For specialized treatment, patients need to travel to Kolkata, which they can ill afford, both economically and in terms of distance.
This distance proves fatal for patients, particularly snakebite and stroke victims.
Mobile Medical Clinics
Over the past year, we have run mobile medical clinics at Bijaynagar, Bali Island (weekly), Hetalbari, Mollakhali Island (bi-monthly) and Ram Gopalpur, near Godkhali (bi-monthly).
As of September 2014, we have been running one clinic (Ram Gopalpur, near Godkhali) due to the opening of our OPD (Out Patients' Department) on Bali Island.
Approximately 250 patients of all ages, with various medical conditions, attend the clinics.
Specialised medical care is provided, e.g. the eye clinic offers treatment, medicines and glasses.
Individual medical cases are attended to and treatment and surgery is provided.
Our vision is to expand the programme to include the most remote islands of the Sunderbans in the near future.
