In a significant effort to break down barriers to healthcare access for persons with disabilities, the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS) is conducting a week-long Medical Assessment Camp in Samtse. Besides the ambitious goal of reaching over 1,300 persons with disabilities in the district, the initiative also aims to provide timely medical checkups and interventions to those who face challenges in accessing essential healthcare services.
Among the beneficiaries of this camp is 15-year-old Deewan Subba from Yoeseltse Gewog, who has faced mobility challenges since birth.
Deewan, accompanied by his father, came to attend the medical assessment camp in hopes of receiving a new wheelchair to replace his old one.
“Thanks to this initiative, health experts have come to our village. We can get timely medical checkups. We are happy to know that ABS will provide wheelchairs and portable toilets for those in genuine need. As a father of Deewan, I am very happy with the initiative,” said Ravindra Subba, Deewan’s father.
The camp has also brought hope to 49-year-old Gorey Ghalley, another resident of Yoeseltse, who will soon be provided with a hearing aid.
“It has been nearly around two years that I have been having this hearing problem. I could not go to the hospital and was not aware of the hearing aid machine as well. I am having a really tough time listening and understanding low sounds. Today, the doctors advised me to use a hearing aid. They said they will provide me one very soon,” said Gorey Ghalley, a resident.
With a comprehensive team of health specialists, the program aims to identify disabilities at an early stage and provide essential assistive devices, such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, crutches and air mattresses.
“Since most of the persons with disabilities cases are from rural areas, they have been facing a lot of challenges visiting district hospitals and Thimphu hospital. That is why, our team consisting of an Audiologist, Physiotherapist and ENT specialist are visiting various gewogs and providing the services. Through such programs, we can help our clients with early identification and intervention services,” said Wangchuk Dema, project district coordinator of ABS.
Likewise, the team is also conducting home visits for individuals who are unable to travel to the Gewog primary health centres.
The second phase of the medical camp is being conducted in various gewogs of Yoeseltse, Sangngagchogling, Namgyalchhoeling, Tashichhoeling, Pemaling, Tendruk and Norgaygang.
According to ABS, Samtse is one of the districts with the highest number of persons with disabilities cases. Today, Samtse district is home to over 1,300 individuals with disabilities, ranging from mild to severe conditions.
So far, the medical camp has covered over 800 persons with disabilities. The medical assessment camp will end tomorrow in Norgaygang Gewog.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
