Free Medical Camp at Chitral Valley

A team of doctors of the RMI held a free medical camp at Chitral Valley from 14th May – 17th May 2004. As part of its mission of providing quality healthcare services to all, Rehman Medical Institute had among its short term goals planned certain health awareness programs including a free medical camp in Chitral.

A team of 17 Physicians and Surgeons (covering all specialities) of RMI took part in the camp which was held in ‘Koghuzi’ and ‘Booni’ where nearly 5000 patients were treated in 3 days. Free medicines were distributed among the poverty ridden population of Chitral. An Ophthalmologist (eye specialist) from the team performed 48 ‘Cataract Surgeries’ free of cost in the local hospital. Patients needing further investigation and treatment were referred to RMI to be treated free of cost or at subsidized charges. The main diagnoses detected among the patients were; blood pressure, hyper tension, emmina, general infection and joint problems.

The valley of Chitral lies at a distance of 322 km from Peshawar; approximately a 10 hour drive from here. According to unofficial estimates the total population in Chitral has reached 320,000; mostly poverty ridden and deprived of quality healthcare services. The valley consists of 503 villages, however due to the large number of patients needing treatment in each village; the team of RMI were only able to cover 2 villages in the three day camp.

RMI is dedicated to its mission of serving humanity, by providing quality healthcare services to all. For this purpose the Team of specialists at RMI regularly visit remote areas of the region, where healthcare services are inaccessible, and create health awareness among the people. The first such camp was held in May 2003 in the Tirah Valley, a remote tribal area located 50 km North of Peshawar with an estimated population of 200,000. The doctors in the camp treated over 2400 patients and distributed free medicines.