Chandigarh to host first health mela from Feb 8

CHANDIGARH: With an aim to generate awareness about various diseases, the first ever three-day heath mela has been organised by the Chandigarh administration from February 8. The mela would have some 40 stalls which would provide counselling and some preliminary treatment to the patients who would visit.
Terming it as the ``multi-specialty’’ health camps, a senior doctor involved with the preparations of the Mela said that while the treatment would be free of cost, the referral cards would be made for the patients in case the preliminary check up at the amps point out towards the need of referring the patients to the hospitals for prolonged treatments.
Referral cards would be made for the immediate health care centre like the sector 22 heath centre, and if required then to the GMCH sector 32 and PGI sector 12. ``it would primarily a stall-approach system where the patients who would approach us would be counselled about their different queries,’’ added the doctor. A separate counter for pathology would also be put up were on the spot urine, sugar and other such tests would be conducted.
The organisers have also chalked out few focal themes for the mela, which would be thrust areas of the event. These include awareness about Tuberculosis, awareness about Family planning, HIV/AIDS and girl child.
The doctors and medial staff of the general hospital sector 16, heath centre sector 22 and a few specialists from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) sector 32 would be involved in the mela.
Such mela have been already organised in other parts of the country and all the expenses incurred on it are borne by the ministry of health and family welfare.