ITANAGAR, Feb 22: Aligning with the vision of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Health & Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge to render healthcare services to ‘tough’ border areas, a one-day Mega Health Camp, organized by the District Health Society, Longding, in collaboration with 24 Assam Rifles, Longding and North East Foundation for Health Education and Livelihood Skills (NE-HEALS), was successfully conducted at the helipad ground, Pongchau today.
The event benefited 1073 residents from Pongchau, an aspirational block and nearby villages.
The camp was formally inaugurated by Dr Mohesh Chai, MLA-Tezu cum Advisor to Minister Health & Family Welfare, amid an enthusiastic gathering.
Beneficiaries accessed a wide array of free, high-quality services, including specialist consultations in gynaecology, ENT, ophthalmology, general surgery, orthopaedics, general medicine, psychiatry, chest diseases (with a focus on TB), handheld X-ray was made available for TB screening, and dentistry.
Additional screenings covered non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Cancer screening van was made available for screening various types of cancer, HIV and Hepatitis, birth defects, adolescent health issues, and disability registration. On-site support included PMJAY/CMAAY enrollments, distribution of essential free medicines and spectacles.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by prominent figures, including Honchun Ngandam, MLA-cum-Advisor to Minister PWD (EZ & CZ B); Dr Komling Perme, Jt Director Health Services (Jt DHS); Marge Sora, Mission Director NHM Arunachal Pradesh; Phephot Wangsu, ZPM; Capt Dr Jatin Chhikara, RMO 24 Assam Rifles; Dr P D Thongchi, State TB Officer (NTEP); and Dr Dilip Dutta, District Medical Officer (DMO) Longding. The Arunachal Pradesh Doctors’ Association led by its general secretary Dr Kambak Tamar also supported the health camp.
In his keynote address, Dr Chai lauded the Health Dept and Assam Rifles for their ‘exemplary civil-military collaboration—one of its kind in Longding District’. He emphasized how such initiatives strengthen public health resilience in remote areas.
The State Mission Director NHM commended the flawless multi-agency coordination that powered the camp. He spotlighted how specialist doctors, deputed from various districts, propelled major Ayushman Bharat milestones—such as expanded NCD and TB screenings—while NHM provided essential technical oversight and resources to ensure comprehensive coverage for remote beneficiaries.
This health camp yielded instant ‘results’ screening hundreds for critical illnesses and providing essential medicines while building lasting public faith in government initiatives. By transforming access to specialists for isolated villagers, it created a blueprint for State-wide mega camps, reinforcing Arunachal’s resolve for healthcare equity in every remote outpost.