Bhanu Bhumji, a resident of Kamakhyabari Tea Estate in Dibrugarh is a diabetic & high-pressure patient for a very long time. Despite this, it was challenging for her to visit a doctor on a regular basis due to the remote location of her home. A glimmer of hope in the life of Bhanu arrived when a Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), fully equipped with necessary medical kits, began visiting the area to provide healthcare services.
“Due to the absence of a testing centre near my neighbourhood, I used to do the sugar test at an interval of two or three months. However, the situation has changed, of late. An MMU van is visiting the garden at least twice a month where I can do the testing and check the result instantly. The van also has a doctor who prescribed medicines which are very effective,” said Bhanu while speaking to Asom Barta, adding, “From cough, cold, fever to dysentery, diarrhoea various types of diseases are treated here.”
Thanks to the regular medical attention, Bhanu’s condition has improved significantly, with both her diabetes and blood pressure parameters showing improvement. “The MMU has been a boon to us. We no longer have to travel faraway distances for treatment,” Bhanu said. She was hopeful that the service would continue for years to come.
Balak Karmakar of Bolai Tea Estate, a patient, firmly believes that the treatment provided by the MMU is effective which, based on proper guidance & advice, is making him and his fellow villagers healthy.
The benefits of Mobile Medical Units which people like Bhanu, Balak and many others are receiving is the ambitious approach of Government of Assam to provide the best medical facilities at the grassroots. The Department of Labour has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Hans Foundation. It is the latter that has launched the Hans Mobile Medical Unit Project.
The MoU details a comprehensive package of services, including OPD consultations, free medicines, diagnostic tests, counselling and awareness sessions to be provided to residents of tea gardens in Assam. At present, the MMUs are covering 194 vulnerable tea garden areas in five districts: Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sonitpur, Biswanath, and Lakhimpur.
Since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on June 11, 2024, significant progress has been made in delivering healthcare to these isolated areas. Till the filing of the report, the 39 deployed Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have conducted a total of 34,989 OPD camps, treating 1,82,159 patients. The MMUs have also facilitated 70,758 diagnoses through high-tech lab machines operated by skilled lab technicians. Additionally, 588 home visits have been conducted by the team, providing essential healthcare services to patients in need. Notably, 2,844 patients have been identified for higher treatment and referred to better facilities.
Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) Dibrugarh Abhinandan Borthakur appreciated the initiative. “This is a commendable effort to ensure that better medical facilities reach remote tea garden communities. Not only are modern healthcare services brought to their doorsteps, but the youth working in the MMUs are highly skilled and efficient. The doctors don’t just prescribe medicines; they follow up with patients and provide thorough guidance,” he told this reporter.
Borthakur also mentioned that each MMU session is typically attended by at least 50 people. “In remote areas, instant medical test results were previously not available. The MMU now provides immediate results, helping people understand their health conditions right away.”
Speaking to the newsletter, Sandeep Kapur, CEO Hans Foundation, said, “Our motto is to serve the last mile denominator and in this regard we have chosen the tea gardens of Assam. Presently there are 75 MMUs vehicles, which will increase in the coming days. Besides, we will also deploy a special therapy bus for the specially abled persons, running Hans Renal Care center for free of cost dialysis services, adoption of tea garden schools, etc.”
To enhance healthcare services, portable X-ray machines have been installed in four MMUs. This initiative is expected to improve diagnostic facilities and healthcare outcomes in the hinterland.
