Tangdhar, Sep 25: Residents of Tangdhar and adjoining areas who underwent cataract surgeries during the Indian Army’s mega outreach surgical camp at 328 Field Hospital, Tangdhar, expressed gratitude to the Army for bringing specialised eye care closer to people in the border region.
Speaking during interactions with the media, beneficiaries said the camp helped them access treatment without travelling to distant hospitals and spared them significant medical and travel expenses.
Ghulam Jilani, a resident of Tangdhar Sultan, said his patient first underwent medical tests before the surgery and was examined again during the post-operative check-up. He thanked the Indian Army for providing surgery, medicines, food and transportation support free of cost.
“People in this border area are very grateful to the Indian Army for helping us,” Jilani said, adding that he hoped similar medical camps would be organised regularly in Tangdhar.
Mohammad Maqbool, a resident of Dildar village, said his wife had been facing an eye problem for the past two to three years. He said limited income and the cost of travelling outside the area had made treatment difficult for his family.
“We are poor people and earning through daily wage work is also difficult here. We are very thankful to the Army for organising this camp and conducting the surgery here,” Maqbool said.
He said the camp allowed his family to avoid travelling outside the area for treatment and urged the Army to organise such initiatives regularly.
Another beneficiary, Sarwar Mir, said he was satisfied with the treatment and thanked the Army for conducting the surgery with dignity and proper care.
Mir said the procedure could have cost around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 at a private facility, making it difficult for low-income families to afford. He also appreciated the medical support provided at the camp and called for similar initiatives for economically weaker sections.
Ghulam Zakia, another beneficiary, also expressed gratitude to the Army for the treatment and support provided during the camp. He said the patients received assistance throughout the process, from reaching the operation theatre to completing the procedure.
According to the beneficiaries, the Army also provided food, medicines, tea and transportation assistance during the camp. They said the arrangements helped patients and their attendants undergo the treatment without facing additional financial burden.
The beneficiaries particularly highlighted the significance of the initiative for residents of Tangdhar and other remote border villages, where access to specialised medical facilities remains limited.
The Army had organised the 10th outreach mega surgical camp in collaboration with Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, 92 Base Hospital Srinagar and 328 Field Hospital Tangdhar. The camp focused on cataract surgeries and provided advanced eye care to patients from the region.
The beneficiaries said the initiative had provided relief to families who otherwise faced difficulties in travelling outside Tangdhar for specialised treatment. They also appealed for the continuation of such outreach programmes in the border area.
