Tangdhar, Sep 25: The Indian Army organised its 10th outreach mega surgical camp at 328 Field Hospital, Tangdhar, providing advanced cataract surgery and specialised eye care to residents of the border area.
Addressing a press conference, an Army medical officer said the initiative was organised under the outreach programme of the Indian Army, with support from Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, 92 Base Hospital Srinagar and 328 Field Hospital, Tangdhar.
He expressed gratitude to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Birendra Singh, Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and 15 Corps Commander Lt Gen Balbir Singh for supporting the initiative and enabling the medical team to reach the border area.
The officer said the camp was conducted in two phases. During the first phase, Brigadier B.B. Rao, Commandant of 92 Base Hospital Srinagar, conducted groundwork and carried out around 20 surgeries. Following the initial response, the Army decided to expand the programme into a larger surgical camp.
A specialised team from Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, subsequently travelled to Tangdhar with advanced medical equipment, with assistance from the Indian Air Force. The team also provided high quality intraocular lenses for patients undergoing cataract surgery.
According to the officer, around 110 patients underwent surgery on the first day, taking the total number of patients operated upon to nearly 130. Another 88 patients were listed for surgery on the following day, with procedures expected to be completed by evening.
He said the camp was particularly significant for residents of Tangdhar because of limited medical infrastructure in the border area. Many patients had been living with advanced cataracts, which had affected their ability to carry out routine activities.
“All operations conducted so far have been successful,” the officer said, adding that the response from beneficiaries reflected the impact of the initiative.
He described the camp as an expression of the Indian Army's humanitarian outreach and said the initiative would not end with the present programme.
“This is not the end. This is a beginning,” he said, adding that similar camps would be organised in the future to extend medical assistance to people in remote areas.
The officer also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the local and specialised Army medical teams. He said Brigadier B.B. Rao and his team, along with 328 Field Hospital, carried out the initial groundwork, while the specialised team from Army Hospital Research and Referral joined them for the expanded surgical programme.
He said future initiatives would also follow a joint collaboration model, with Srinagar based Army hospitals expected to play a major role.
Asked why Tangdhar was selected for the camp when other remote areas of Kashmir also require similar medical services, the officer said the programme was only a beginning and that the medical infrastructure in Tangdhar remained limited.
He also highlighted the underground operation theatre at the facility, describing it as a unique setup that enabled the Army to conduct surgeries on a large scale.
The officer said a surgical camp of this magnitude requires a proper operation theatre and cannot be conducted in a temporary tent. He said the Tangdhar facility was identified by Brigadier B.B. Rao during the first phase and was subsequently considered suitable for expanding the programme.
The Army said the initiative aims to take specialised medical services closer to people living in remote and border areas.
