Srinagar, Nov 4 (JKNS): The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has treated over 4,000 patients and performed 365 sight-restoring eye surgeries during the 12th edition of Operation DRISHTI, a mega multi-speciality medical camp held at Rairangpur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district from November 2 to 4.
The camp provided comprehensive specialist medical care free of cost, bringing advanced healthcare services closer to the people of the region.
On November 4, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), visited the camp and interacted with patients undergoing consultations and post-operative care. He also distributed medicine kits to patients who had undergone eye surgeries.
He appreciated the dedication and commitment of the medical teams, who continued their services despite challenging weather conditions caused by a cyclone, ensuring uninterrupted medical care for the people.
The camp brought together specialists from Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Dermatology, Dental and General Medicine under one roof. Every patient reporting at the camp was provided on-site medical attention. The initiative enabled patients to undergo screening, investigations and treatment, with referrals for advanced care wherever required.
The Cardiology Department attended to over 400 patients, conducted 298 ECGs and 406 echocardiograms, and identified 29 patients requiring advanced interventions, including angiography, CT angiography, valve surgery, device implantation and balloon pulmonary valvotomy.
Nephrology treated over 400 patients and conducted 341 ultrasound examinations, while Dermatology attended to over 500 patients. The Dental team treated 221 patients and performed 198 procedures, while General Medicine attended to 339 patients.
The beneficiaries included 75-year-old Biswanath, who had been living with a complicated cataract following an old eye injury. The surgical team successfully performed manual small-incision cataract surgery with a scleral-fixated intraocular lens, restoring the possibility of improved vision.
Another beneficiary was 60-year-old Sombari Gope, who had a dense cataract in a structurally small eye. Surgeons successfully performed manual small-incision cataract surgery with a posterior chamber lens, ensuring protection of the cornea.
The camp, conducted in Rairangpur, the hometown of President of India Droupadi Murmu, marks another significant milestone in Operation DRISHTI, an AFMS initiative to extend specialised eye care and advanced medical services to underserved regions across the country.
The successful conduct of the camp reflects the Armed Forces Medical Services’ commitment to humanitarian service and its resolve to make quality healthcare accessible to all, bringing specialised treatment and the gift of sight to the people of Mayurbhanj. (JKNS)
