Jammu: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the close relationship between the Army and local residents, coupled with effective coordination with civilian authorities, strengthens public confidence and enhances the sense of security in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office was speaking at a two-day medical camp organised by the Army’s Northern Command in the remote Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, which benefited more than 2,000 patients.
Singh thanked the Army for organising the camp and appreciated the doctors and medical teams for their commitment and hard work in delivering services despite the challenges of conducting a large medical camp in a remote area.
He also acknowledged the cooperation extended by the district administration, health authorities, local representatives and residents.
“The close relationship between the Army and the local population, supported by cooperation with civilian authorities, contributes to residents’ confidence and sense of security,” the minister said.
Recalling an earlier instance when local residents had requested the continuation of an Army deployment to sustain public morale despite the situation being under control, Singh highlighted the mutual trust between the Army and the community.
Describing the medical camp as another example of the Army and civil administration working together for public welfare, he expressed confidence that this cooperation would continue to improve access to essential services for people living in remote areas of his home constituency, Udhampur.
The medical outreach assumes significance as Basantgarh and its adjoining areas have witnessed a series of encounters between security forces and terrorists over the past few years.
The region, characterised by dense forest cover, rugged terrain and scattered habitations, has also figured in security assessments as a potential route used by infiltrating terrorists to move towards the hinterland.
Singh also offered prayers at the renowned Vasuki Naag Temple in Basantgarh and emphasised the need for early detection of preventable diseases, regular medical surveillance and improved healthcare access in remote areas.
Drawing on the camp’s experience, the minister proposed preparing a feedback report to identify commonly occurring and preventable disorders and exploring weekly rotational visits by doctors until regular appointments are made.
“These measures would help strengthen continuity of care and ensure timely medical attention for residents of difficult-to-access areas,” he said.
He said the feedback would help health authorities identify gaps in healthcare delivery and plan appropriate follow-up measures instead of limiting assistance to one-time medical interventions.
Referring to the cases examined at the camp, Singh said nearly 50 per cent were related to ophthalmology, with cataract accounting for a substantial proportion of these cases. He said cataract is treatable and that timely diagnosis and intervention can prevent avoidable blindness.
Pending regular appointments, Singh proposed exploring weekly rotational visits by doctors to Basantgarh. He asked the deputy commissioner and the chief medical officer to examine the arrangement and establish a patient register to document cases, track medical requirements and facilitate referrals.
Depending on the nature and severity of their conditions, patients could be referred to hospitals in Ramnagar or Udhampur district hospital, while those requiring advanced super-speciality treatment could be referred to an appropriate military hospital.
He also suggested brief awareness sessions on hygiene, ear-related disorders and women’s health for people attending the camp.
He requested the Army medical team to consider short, practical health talks so that patients could carry essential preventive-health messages back to their families and communities.
