Health care for Manipur’s rural population launched

Newmai News Network UKHRUL, Sept 13 [dropcap]H[/dropcap]ealth scenario in Ukhrul district underwent a sea change with the launching of Operation Mission Outreach (OMO), a locally initiated health programme, for the rural poor. OMO is a surgery mission in Ukhrul District Hospital for the rural poor. Launched in 2013 with the initiative of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Ng. Raikhan more than 60 patients have benefited under OMO. In the 8th series of OMO which began on Friday and concluded on Saturday eleven major operations and fifteen minor operations were performed by a team of surgeons from Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). Manipur’s first Gynecologist Dr.Ksh. Kheroda, the retired Manipur Health Services Director of Manipur was part of the medical team of the 8th series of OMO. With the launching of OMO the once dreaded Ukhrul District Hospital has come to life. CMO Dr. Raikhan categorically said that OMO is launched to make health facilities reachable to the rural poor of the district by making the government run district hospital as the main avenue. “Major population of the district cannot afford to avail health facilities especially in surgery at other places due to poor financial condition. Ukhrul District Hospital has Operation Theatre but is seldom used due to non availability of surgeons. Now with OMO Ukhrul’s Operation Theatre has become the bouncing table for availing health facilities to the rural masses,” remarked the CMO. Purely a local initiative OMO survived with donations from the patients and other assistance from the district administration. In Ukhrul, OMO has become the most sought programme and becomes the most reaching health initiative.