In a heartening example of community collaboration, a free medical camp was organized on April 13 at St Ligoury Primary School, Neermarga, drawing together the efforts of the Health Commission, Commission for Women of St Joseph the Worker Church, FOCUS (Forum of Christian United Services), and Fr Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru.

The event opened with a soulful prayer song by the Women Sangatan members. Gracing the dais were several dignitaries, including Fr Paul Pinto (Parish Priest), Sandeep Misquith (Vice President, Parish Pastoral Council), Usha Fernandes (Secretary), John Baptist D’Souza (President, FOCUS), Dr Veena Pinto (MD Physician, Father Muller Hospital), Dr Kumar S Vasist (Oncology Representative), Deepika (Camp Coordinator), and Saritha Crasta (Health Commission Secretary).

In their addresses:

  • Fr Paul Pinto stressed the importance of preventive healthcare and lauded the spirit of cooperation.

  • John Baptist D’Souza highlighted FOCUS’s ongoing social outreach.

  • Deepika shared insights on Fr Muller’s mission in organizing accessible healthcare programs.

  • Dr Vashist educated the public about early signs of cancer and the significance of timely treatment.

    • The camp provided completely free services, including:

    • Eye tests

  • ECG

  • OBG and orthopedic consultations

  • Blood tests

  • General medical care

  • Free medications

    • Over 170 individuals availed of these services, reflecting a strong community turnout.

    Francis Gonsalves from the Health Commission welcomed the gathering, and Prakash Pereira, Vice President of FOCUS, extended heartfelt thanks with a symbolic rose gesture. Merlin Pais skillfully compered the event, which also featured breakfast and refreshments for all attendees.

    This initiative not only addressed healthcare needs but also reinforced community bonds, showing how collective action can lead to impactful change at the grassroots level.

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