If you are a doctor working in Kashmir, your job may not be restricted to the hospital. You may serve as an all-important connecting link between those lying injured in the hospitals and in need of some rehabilitation, and the rest of the people, who are caged inside their homes.
In the current Kashmir situation, where a month-old curfew has already made the lives of most of the people miserable, doctors have come to the forefront in terms of not only their medical duties but humanitarian work as well.
The current Kashmir turmoil, which is witnessing no signs of any immediate relief, has left thousands of people in the valley clueless about the condition of their kiths and kins lying injured in the hospitals.
More than 55 people have been killed and nearly 6,000 are injured in the clashes between security forces and protestors after Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in South Kashmir on July 8.
Medical emergency has already been declared in Kashmir, where limited internet and mobile phone communication has been permitted by the Mehbooba Mufti government .
Despite all the hurdles, the medicos have launched a campaign to reach out to those who are critically injured and do not have sufficient money for treatment.
Muhammad Salim Khan, department head, Community medicine at Government Medical College, Srinagar, today chaired a meeting of various non-profits whose volunteers are working in various hospitals and for the Doctors Association Kashmir, DAK (M).
The idea was to bring together various groups working for rehabilitation of the victims of the conflict and to pay immediate attention to those who are critically injured.
A majority of such patients especially those hit by pellets come from poor families and might need a long-drawn treatment to bring back their vision.
Doctors have been able to mobilise Rs 7.5 lakh to treat the injured, but the funds collected may dry up soon as the number of admissions to hospitals rise.
The DAK distributed life-saving drugs worth Rs 1.5 lakh at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, Srinagar. They have appealed to all the major hospitals in the valley to come up with a list of patients who may need treatment but do not have financial means to take take up the same.
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