Health workers help Narayanpur become first Bastar district to complete 100% health screening

Raipur: The difficult treks undertaken by health workers through dense forests, crossing streams and walking into remote hamlets with medicine kits, have helped tribal Narayanpur emerge as the first district in Bastar division to complete 100% health screening.In one of Chhattisgarh’s most inaccessible tribal belts, Narayanpur district not only achieved its screening target but slightly exceeded it, examining 1,58,651 people against the projected target of 1,58,303 — a coverage of 100.22% under a state level health campaign.The campaign was carried out in mission mode under the Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan with coordinated efforts from health department teams, Mitanins, anganwadi workers and field-level administrative staff.Instead of limiting screenings to hospitals and primary health centres, medical teams travelled village to village, organising camps in remote settlements, chaupals and weekly haat markets.Collector Namrata Jain said teams navigated hilly terrain, forest routes and river crossings to ensure no habitation was left uncovered.The intensive screening drive also led to early detection of several serious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy and sickle cell disease. Authorities said suspected patients were immediately linked to treatment, while 905 people requiring advanced care were referred to higher medical institutions.The campaign aimed to improve access to healthcare services in remote and forest regions of Bastar, where geographical isolation often delays diagnosis and treatment.