Workers receiving medical attention at the camp organised by ICBF in Zikrit on Friday
The Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) on Friday organised its 10th medical camp for low-income workers, mostly Asian nationals, at the Zikrit Industrial Area in Dukhan.
More than 280 workers from camps in and around Dukhan and other places in western Qatar received medical attention.The free medical camp is held once in every three months.Former Indian federal minister for labour M P Veerendra Kumar, who was on a private visit of Qatar, paid a surprise visit to the camp. While complimenting the ICBF efforts in providing medical care to the low-income expatriates, the former minister also urged the workers to avail of the facilities at such medical camps. Doctors, nurses and paramedics from Doha’s Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre rendered their services free of cost at the camp, which received workers from about 20 camps in Dukhan and its suburbs.Besides providing free consultation, the organisers also distributed some essential medicines free. Apart from 218 Indian workers, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepalese workers made use of the facilities at the camp, held at the project site of Galfar Al Misnad Company.ICBF president Nilangshu Dey said the organisers had registered more than 200 workers in the two weeks prior to the camp. Close to 100 people availed of the spot registration.The camp had facilities to check blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.Of all patients received at the camp, more than  50% cases were found to have hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Some of the cases had to be referred to the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Qatar Petroleum Medical Centre for further treatment.The health, safety and environment department at QP Dukhan held a lecture and  seminar on  health  awareness concerning noise, heat stress, food, hygiene and occupational hazards and  their  prevention.Second Secretary at the Indian embassy Anil Nautiyal inaugurated the camp. President of the Indian Medical Association (Qatar chapter) Dr Krishnakumar and chief medical officer at Dukhan Medical centre Dr Ismail Taher were among others present.