Dedicated doctors who heal with heart, extend a helping hand

Lucknow: It's 9am and the community health centre in Kakori is bustling with patients scrambling to meet the doctor. Amid the melee, superintendent Dr Awadhesh Kumar calmly picks the mic and says, "Everyone will be examined. Please stay in line." Though Monday is not his OPD day, he treats a patient with seasonal fungal infection. Posted at CHC as superintendent since 2023, Dr Kumar served at the same CHC as a medical officer for eight years. "Rural health comes with its challenges — especially during the monsoon," he says.Recalling a case when a woman pleaded for help for her husband who was severely dehydrated. Dr Kumar and his team treated him non-stop for 36 hours. When the man recovered, his wife offered Rs 200 in gratitude. "I gave her Rs 500 instead for his nutrition needs. That moment still inspires me," he says with a smile.At Kakori CHC handles 25-27 caesarean deliveries at night every month. Families of newborn girls receive small gifts as encouragement. Like Kakori, patients at public urban health centre (PUHC) express deep appreciation for the dedication of doctors at New Haiderganj, Chinhat, Sadar, Turiyaganj, and Nishatganj, who remain accessible even beyond their official OPD hours of 9am to 3pm. At New Haiderganj primary health centre (PHC), a patient showed Dr Rajeev Singh a container of stones passed during urination. He complained of abdominal pain and white urine and feared kidney failure.Dr Singh calmed him down, prescribed painkillers, and advised a urine test and ultrasound. He told the patient that he was lucky that the stones had passed and assured him that pain should ease soon.Located in the house of a former corporator on Mohan Road, this small PHC attracts around 100 patients daily.Dr Singh attends them on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays, while on other days, he serves patients at other PHCs. He has previously worked at the PHC when he handled 10-12 emergency cases and 25-30 cases of dog bites daily. His internship at Balrampur Hospital prepared him for managing dehydration and hypotension without referrals.During the pandemic, his PHC was the first among small centres to start vaccinations. The number of patients grew from 20 to nearly 100 a day, who reported common ailments like kidney stones, hypertension, and diabetes. Infrastructure, however, remains limited, with only 2-3 rooms and two inpatient beds. "We need at least one or two more rooms," he says.At Chinhat CHC, Dr Anju Duggal is gently counselling a young pregnant woman on the importance of newborn screening. "Timely detection can save a child's life," she says.At 56, Dr Duggal leads child health efforts under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), screening children from birth to 18 years for 32 conditions — from birth defects to developmental delays. "We work with schools, Anganwadis, and ASHAs to ensure every child gets free care, including surgeries, if needed," she says.She credits strong infrastructure and teamwork at the CHC for their success. "Even during emergencies, I feel safe and supported," she says. For her, every child recovered is a story of hope. "It's an emotional moment for us when we help a child overcome a birth defect." Around 11am, there is a steady stream of women seeking healthcare at Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Sadar. Dr Kirti Saxena is listening patiently to a woman in her sixties —not just about her diabetes and hypertension, but also her personal struggles. "This often happens. Many women come with vague complaints like headaches or palpitations. These are often signs of stress. We counsel around 40-45 such patients every month," she says."Many women feel safer talking here than at home. They discuss domestic issues, even abuse. That's why we focus on mental health and family counselling along with medicines," Dr Saxena says.At 1pm, a similar scene unfolds at the urban primary health centre in Nishatganj where Dr Prachi Singh is attending to a 86-year-old Parkinson's patient. "Most of my patients are elderly and live nearby. They avoid big hospitals. Some come daily or call often — they've become like family," she says. When she joined in April 2023, footfall was just 2-3 patients per day. "I held health camps and spread awareness. Now, we get 40-50 patients daily," she says. Speaking about helping an anaemic woman who couldn't afford private care, she recalls: "My team arranged medicines and tests for her. Sometimes that extra step means the difference between treatment and abandonment."At 3pm, at CHC in Turiyaganj, Dr Geetanjali Singh is conducting a cervical cancer awareness session. Speaking to women, she explains the symptoms, importance of screening, and HPV vaccine. "Most women here are from low-income backgrounds. They need guidance, not just treatment. We often get serious cases and try to support them emotionally and financially," she says.

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