This is a huge state of Assam, India. With such size, it accommodates several islands. Due to their location far from the land, there is some kind of neglect in health service delivery. To address this issue, boat clinics have been developed. The clinics travel to islands to be able to provide adequate medication. They arrive with doctors, nurses, and other medical materials.
What Are Boat Clinics?
Boat clinics are unique boats with health workers and doctors on board, equipped with drugs and other medical supplies. They will visit such islands as this, Laika Pumua, whose population stands at about three thousand people. The boat clinics service such islands twice a month. It vaccinates children and gives expectant mothers a checkup. For most locals here, it is the only time they get to visit a doctor.
Challenges Faced by Island Dwellers
For example, Sushmita Pegu lives on these islands. She is 26 years old. She voices her problems: “Two visits a month are not enough.” Normally, people find it tough to get help the minute they get sick. The boat clinics act like a lifeline in this network, but no one could extend them anywhere. Here is a start :
The boat clinics began in 2005. A nongovernmental organization by the name of Center for North Eastern Studies and Policy established the boat clinic program. Later on, the state government took a move forward by collaborating with the National Health Mission. It aimed at reaching the remotest places through this health care delivery service. Two point five million people inhabit the islands, ten percent of the Assam population.
Life on the Islands
Life on such islands can be quite daunting at times. There are areas where health care is not readily available. In some islands, neither clinics nor hospitals are found in the local area. Bir Soni Tara is 80 years of age. She lives on an island where no medical facilities exist. It would be very important for her to get the care she needs, but it is hard.
The National Health Mission
The National Health Mission is investing in healthcare access. They have already invested in the boat clinic program. They realize that they face many challenges with regards to the provision of health care to these remote areas. The islands are drifting, so their shapes and sizes change with time. That makes it quite hard to establish a permanent medical facility.
Concerns of the Community
It has many concerns in terms of the community. Among the biggest worries is what will be done in case of emergencies. If a person becomes very sick or is seriously hurt, where can they go? The boat clinics do help, but they cannot be present whenever there is a need. People wait for what will be considered an unacceptably long time to receive medical attention.
Voices from the Islands
Citizens commented. They are not satisfied with the boat clinics. They want regular visits and better facilities. They do it with the hope of seeing improvement in health systems there. These islanders, too, need the same healthcare as anybody else.
Boat Clinics in Assam: A Lifeline to Alienated Islands
Future of Healthcare in Remote Areas
The boat clinic program requires more support for the future. Increased means are required to ensure that all of them receive proper care. For the development of healthcare accessibility, cooperation from the government on behalf of the organization is essential. In this context, it would be very crucial to listen to the voice of the islanders and understand what they precisely require.
Conclusion
For many, the boat clinics are a lifeline. They provide much-needed care to people who, often, are poorly served. But there is much more to do. We must ensure everyone receives good health care, regardless of where they reside. It is high time that these people got their care from their long-time patients.