Bicholim: To mark World Hepatitis Day, a special health awareness and screening camp was held at the BMC Hall in Bicholim, dedicated especially to safai kamgar and garbage collection workers.
The event was jointly organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bicholim Branch, Bicholim Municipality, the State Unit of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, and the Community Health Centre (CHC), Bicholim.
The initiative focused on raising awareness and providing free screening for Hepatitis B and C among safai kamgar and other municipal staff. Participants were educated about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and the importance of early detection of hepatitis.
The camp was inaugurated by Chairperson Shri Vijaykumar Natekar in the presence of several dignitaries:
- Dr. Medha Salkar, State Program Officer for Hepatitis
- Dr. Shekhar Salkar, President, IMA Bicholim
- Dr. Kaustubh Patnekar
- Vice Chairperson Deepa Pal
- Rajaram Goankar
- Mrs. Deepa Shirgaonkar
- Mrs. Sukhda Teli
- Adv. Aparna Foguery
- Mrs. Ranjana Waingankar
- Sudan Govekar
Chairperson Natekar urged all municipal staff to take full advantage of such health initiatives. Dr. Medha Salkar specifically advised safai kamgar to prioritize their health and take precautions while handling waste.
Dr. Shekhar Salkar personally engaged with the workers and motivated them to undergo screening. The programme saw active support from municipal councillors, who helped mobilize staff and ensured smooth execution of the event.
Hepatitis Awareness Team:
- Dr. Medha Salkar – State Nodal Officer
- Shekhar Arolkar
- Dr. Mrudul Naik
- Pooja Narvekar
- Neha Gundanwar
- Rashika Gaonkar
Additional Screenings:
- The CHC Bicholim team also conducted screenings for diabetes and anemia:
- Sulochini Chandroji (EE, CHC Bicholim)
- Balakrishna Sawant (Lab Technician)
Key Outcomes:
- 54 municipal workers were screened
- 4 were found with high blood sugar
- 3 were diagnosed with anemia
All individuals were advised to seek further medical attention. Hepatitis samples have been sent to Goa Medical College for laboratory testing.
The event received an overwhelming response and reinforced the importance of regular health checkups and preventive screenings for frontline workers.
